Ovechkin did not divide the hockey world.  The NHL’s decisions on prior incidents by Cooke and company is what the talk is about.  Ovechkin’s hit on Campbell was not even a hit, it was a push and it just happens that Campbell fell head first into the board, which by the way he was 6 feet away from it.  You want to talk about a hit? talk about Ovechkin’s hit on Jagr in the Olympics or when he goes toe to toe with Chara.  The OV-Campbell incident is nothing more than a minor “shove” with a bad result, which only received media attention because Campbell broke his clavicle and 6 ribs, otherwise we would not have talked about this.  Ovechkin should have received the penalty but not a suspension.  Now we are at the point where in the injury dictates the penalty when when penalties are in place to prevent just that, injuries.  Based on this new way of thinking then we can assume that OV would have been put to death had Jagr’s head would have come off his body? or maybe that is what Cooke will get for causing a potential career ending concussion to Savard? i mean, what is going on with the NHL? OV deserved a penalty but this was far from a dirty hit, far from a malicious hit.  Ahhhhhh but wait!!!! Semin was hit from behind during the game but NOTHING was called…a clear hit from behind which is supposed to be one of the most dangerous hits in sport….the kind of hit that paralyzed Roy in BU in the 90s.  And no penalty…did Semin have to break his neck or back for it to be a penalty???

Posted by Alberto from Pitt on 03/16/10 at 08:40 AM ET

You can tell it’s a rant by the lack of paragraphs.

The article isn’t that interesting and adds little to the discussion except that viewpoints differ according to perspective, which isn’t groundbreaking news. Judged by his categories, I’m probably a stickler for law and order. I don’t worship or hate any players, and feel that player types like Crosby, Ovechkin, and several others are necessary for a dynamical and interesting league.

But rules apply to everyone.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 03/16/10 at 09:32 AM ET

I don’t think Washington fans have a problem with the call if Ovi actually is deemed by the league to have committed an infraction.  What bugs Caps fans is that the NHL is incredibly inconsistent. 
.
Take Penguin Craig Adam’s hit on Ovechkin made earlier this year.  Adam’s hits Ovi from behind into the boards.  No penalty.  No suspension.  No nothing.  The hit is arguably worse than Ovi’s hit as Adam’s push was more directly behind Ovi and was about 5 feet from the boards.  You can catch the video on Mike Vogels blog.
.
With the law and order crowd, if it’s legal it’s good.  If Matt Cooke hits Savard, and the league says, “hey it is okay, no suspension” then the hit is good or any in game penalty suffices.  But if Ovi gets suspended for the same hit weeks later it’s then bad?  And don’t tell me past history plays a part because Cooke has more of a history than Ovechkin of being a dirty player. 
.
The problem lies in the NHL not applying the rules consistently and/or correctly.

Posted by Eddie from Richmond, VA on 03/16/10 at 05:19 PM ET