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Category: Washington-Capitals

Will Ovechkin Ever Learn A Lesson?

by Paul on 03/17/10 at 12:32 PM ET
Comments (20)

from Mike Brophy of Sportsnet,

A few NHLers I spoke with this week about Ovechkin were upset at his actions and offered up comments such as, “He’ll get his,” and, “His day is coming.”

Ovechkin is one of the most skilled players to ever play in the NHL. Let’s hope this is the last time he does anything that might make voters want to knock him off his perch and from here on in, we only talk about his amazing ability to lift people out of their seats with breath-taking plays.

Let’s hope he has finally learned his lesson.

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 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin,

Ovechkin On His Suspension

by Paul on 03/16/10 at 01:24 PM ET
Comments (43)

via the Washington Capitals PR department,

Statement from Alex Ovechkin

“I am very sorry that Brian was injured and I hope he is able to return to his team soon. NHL hockey is a physical game. We all play hard every time we are on the ice and have battles each shift in every game we play so we can do our jobs and win. As players we must accept responsibility for our actions and I am no different but I did not intend to injure Brian and that is why I was disappointed with the NHL’s decision yesterday. Every time I have the honor to play for my team, I will continue to do what I have done since I was taught to play. I will play hard, play with passion and play with respect for my teammates, opponents and fans. I look forward to returning to my team and doing everything I can to be the best player I can be.”

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin,

Everyone Has An Opinion On Ovechkin

by Paul on 03/16/10 at 08:04 AM ET
Comments (3)

from Mike Imrem of the Chicago Daily-Herald,

Ovechkin is unique. He’s a mix of Rodman’s badness and Michael Jordan’s goodness. It doesn’t get much better or entertaining than that.

Anyway, Ovechkin divided the hockey world when he steered Campbell into the boards, breaking the Hawk’s ribs and clavicle.

The Capitals and others who revere Ovechkin wondered what the big deal was. The Hawks and those who revile Ovechkin thought it was a capital crime.

There’s more if you cruise the World Wide Web.

Those who worship Sidney Crosby, vying with Ovechkin to be the NHL’s best player, think Ovechkin should have been suspended until the Cubs win a World Series or the 22nd century, whichever comes first.

Those who think Crosby is a protected little whiner would hate for the NHL to be left to him for even as briefly as the two-game suspension Ovechkin received.

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NHL Faced With The Ovechkin Conundrum

by Paul on 03/15/10 at 06:46 PM ET
Comments (19)

from Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail,

In all the discussion about head shots that dominated the NHL agenda last week, one point consistently came up, from both hawks and doves – that only a handful of players are responsible for the vast majority of the questionable (and potentially) suspension-worthy hits that occur in the game; and they fall into the repeat-offender category. The conundrum, for the NHL, is that one of its shining lights also just happens to be one of those players. That will cause a lot of sleepless nights for Colin Campbell as he riffs on the question that first came up in The Sound Of Music: How do you solve a problem like Ovechkin?

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 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin,

Two Games For Ovechkin

by Paul on 03/15/10 at 04:40 PM ET
Comments (63)

via Tarik El-Bashir tweet,

Ovechkin has been suspended two games by the NHL.

added 4:47pm,

TORONTO (March 15, 2010) – The National Hockey League announced today that Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has been suspended for two games, without pay, for a reckless hit on Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell during NHL game #1022, March 14.

The incident occurred at 12:16 of the first period. Ovechkin was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct on the play. Campbell was injured on the play.

added 6:11pm, from the Capitals PR department,

Statement from George McPhee, Washington Capitals vice president and general manager

“We have no problem with the way Alex tried to finish his check. Unfortunately, an injury resulted. We are disappointed with the suspension but do not want to comment further.”

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 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin,

Should Ovechkin Be Suspended?

by Paul on 03/15/10 at 10:59 AM ET
Comments (58)

I am not going to put up a yes or no poll but rather ask you to comment and tell me if Alexander Ovechkin should/should not be suspended for his boarding call on Brian Campbell yesterday.

This from a Darren Dreger tweet this morning,

NHL is defining “boarding” now and in light of the severity of B.Campbell’s injury, Ovechkin may face suspension.

Also, Tarik El-Bashir tweeted earlier this morning,

I’m hearing the Caps have/are going to ask the NHL to rescind the major penalty assessed to Alex Ovechkin yesterday for his hit/shove.

If you want to review the hit, you can watch it here.

added 11:16am, via Ted Leonsis of Ted’s Take,

I don’t think Alex should have received a game misconduct for that play. I don’t think he should miss our next game either. Matt Cooke didn’t get suspended or a penalty called on his hit last week, but Alex Ovechkin the league’s MVP did on that play? I don’t get it. But it is what it is. We will move on, play hard and we won’t “explain or complain”.

added 11:20am, Damien Cox tweets,

NHL had no plans to suspend Ovechkin on Sunday. If they’ve changed their minds now, Caps should appeal.

added 11:26am, from Elliotte Friedman of CBC,

Since Alexander Ovechkin’s previous boarding major (Patrick Kaleta) happened more than 41 games ago, there is no automatic suspension. (Crazy coincidence: Chicago was game number 42.) But, he admitted post-game that he pushed Brian Campbell - and pushing guys from behind into the boards doesn’t go over well, especially now that Campbell may be out for the rest of the regular season.

read more hockey topics from Elliottte…

added 11:30am, Bob McKenzie tweets,

I will be surprised if Ovechkin is not suspended for a couple of games. Campbell’s injury is the big factor now.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin, Brian+Campbell,

Don’t Expect An Ovechkin Suspension

by Paul on 03/14/10 at 08:05 PM ET
Comments (11)

from Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun at the London Free Press,

...At the same time, don’t expect a suspension to be handed out in this matter, according to a league source.

While Ovechkin deservedly was slapped with a boarding major and game misconduct for his brain cramp, league officials know it did not contain the same type of intent or viciousness as the incident one week earlier in which the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Matt Cooke blindsided Boston’s Marc Savard, leaving the Bruins forward likely out for the season with a concussion.

By not suspending Cooke for a far more malicious act, how could the NHL justify any supplemental discipline for Ovechkin in this matter?

read on

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin, Brian+Campbell,

Ovechkin And Boudreau Talk About The Hit On Campbell

by Paul on 03/14/10 at 05:10 PM ET
Comments (13)

from Lindsay Applebaum of Capitals Insider,

“I didn’t hit him hard,” Ovechkin said of Campbell, who did not return to the game. “He fell bad. But you can see, every shift this happens—little pushes, little battles."…

Unsurprisingly, Coach Bruce Boudreau had similar thoughts. “I didn’t think it was a bad, bad check worth a five and a game [misconduct],” he said. “A two at the most, but I don’t make the calls.”

more including video of both Ovechkin and Boudreau…

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 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin, Brian+Campbell, Bruce+Boudreau,

Brian Campbell Out At Least Three Games

by Paul on 03/14/10 at 04:43 PM ET
Comments (0)

via Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago,

Campbell left the game and has been declared out for the Hawks’ upcoming three-game road trip that begins Wednesday in Anaheim. Coach Joel Quenneville couldn’t say for sure that the injury would not affect him the rest of the season.

“We’ll see. We’ll get a better assessment as we go along here,” Quenneville said. “Soupy [Campbell] is going to be out for a bit here…It was a tough hit. A dangerous hit.”

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin, Brian+Campbell,

Ovechkin With Five For Boarding and A Game Misconcduct

by Paul on 03/14/10 at 01:04 PM ET
Comments (49)

Pushed Brian Campbell into the boards and is gone from the game.

Campbell was slow in getting up, may be winded or a shoulder issue and did skate off and went to the locker room.

Proper call?

added 1:26pm, video of the hit…

added 1:35pm, NBC crew says Campbell will not return.

Filed in: NHL Teams, Chicago Blackhawks, Washington Capitals | KK Hockey | Permalink
 Tags: Alexander+Ovechkin, Brian+Campbell,

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