Good, I’ll take it. Should have been five.

Posted by eternal_fields on 03/15/10 at 03:45 PM ET

He probably gets nothing if Matt Cooke didn’t just injure somebody…...

He probably got two because he’s a superstar.

Posted by U2 sucks from not U2 concert on 03/15/10 at 03:53 PM ET

It was the right thing to do, regardless of caliber.  Kudos for getting a decision right, even if there’s some explaining to do for the lack of Cooke suspension.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 03/15/10 at 03:53 PM ET

whatever

Posted by edillac from isolation on 03/15/10 at 03:54 PM ET

And Milbury can officially eat a rod.

Posted by eternal_fields on 03/15/10 at 03:58 PM ET

Lapierre got 4 games for doing the same thing and he was not a repeat offender.

Just saying…

Posted by Mr. Nasty on 03/15/10 at 04:03 PM ET

Lapierre’s hit was way dirtier. He hit Nichol from behind after he shot the puck. At least Campbell had the puck here.

Posted by Colton from Calgary on 03/15/10 at 04:07 PM ET

I’m shocked he got anything at all.

Time to move on. The knuckledraggers in Chicago who were never able to accept Campbell and his salary will now see the impact of losing a “purse-swinging” puck-carrying defenseman.

Posted by eternal_fields on 03/15/10 at 04:07 PM ET

And how many does Downie the *** Clownie get for trying to end Crosby’s year?  Not a one, I imagine.

Posted by Mike Adams from Madison, WI on 03/15/10 at 04:08 PM ET

Suspended?  For what?  The NHL wants to take checking out of the league?

If Crosby made this hit instead of Ovechkin, he wouldn’t have gotten suspended.  It would’ve been called an “unfortunate play” with Campbell’s skate getting stuck in a rut.

This will just fire Ovy up more to win the Richard and Art Ross.  He’s also going to lead the Caps to the cup this year and then give a middle finger to everyone about his play.

This league is so biased and hates the Caps.

Cooke almost kills a guy and no suspension. 

Ted Leonsis is completely right on in this issue.  You can’t suspend your league MVP for this when Cooke gets nothing.

Posted by Bruce from DC on 03/15/10 at 04:13 PM ET

What a bunch of ****. This is the only way that Crysby has a chance to win the scoring title.
The problem with the NHL is it is run by a bunch of lug headed Canadiens.
Ovie and the Caps will get the last laugh.

I will bet my life that Cambell is not out for the rest of the season.

Posted by PK from Baltimore on 03/15/10 at 04:18 PM ET

This is the only way that Crysby has a chance to win the scoring title.

What? 
In 06-07 Crosby won the scoring title and Ovechkin played every game that season and Crosby missed three.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 03/15/10 at 04:22 PM ET

I’m convinced that the issue lies with the on-ice call.  Had the refs called Cooke and/or Richards for an infraction, both would be donating some salary to the Players Association Fund.  It is only because Ovie was called by the on-ice officials, did Campbell have a claim that things are different and worthy of a suspension. 

I think all three should have been suspended:
Richards - 3 games
Cooke - 10 games
Ovie - 5 games

Posted by ProjectMayhem on 03/15/10 at 04:29 PM ET

This will just fire Ovy up more to win the Richard and Art Ross.  He’s also going to lead the Caps to the cup this year and then give a middle finger to everyone about his play.

Just like a typical Caps fan to mention individual success first.

Posted by Claude from Colorado on 03/15/10 at 04:30 PM ET

“his is the only way that Crysby has a chance to win the scoring title. “

I forget who said it, but somebody said the first thing that would happen after an Ovechkin suspension is someone claiming it was solely to help Crosby win the scoring title.

Looks like he/she was right.

Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 03/15/10 at 04:31 PM ET

Dear Craps fans:

Maybe he can use the time to develop another of his “shootout contest” entries? Do you remember where you were when he donned that hat and those glasses?

I don’t, but I was heavily medicated.

Your guy is developing a rep.

Posted by eternal_fields on 03/15/10 at 04:32 PM ET

What?  In 06-07 Crosby won the scoring title and Ovechkin played every game that season and Crosby missed three.

- very poor comparison.  Pittsburgh was a strong team that year and Ovie had no one to compliment him.  The Pens were second in the Atlantic while the Caps finished last in the worst division in pro sports.  Besides, that is ancient news.

Posted by ProjectMayhem on 03/15/10 at 04:39 PM ET

- very poor comparison.

That’s call spin.

Posted by Lindas1st from New England on 03/15/10 at 04:43 PM ET

Suspended?  For what?  The NHL wants to take checking out of the league?

You’re a jackass.

Posted by Garth on 03/15/10 at 04:58 PM ET

If Crosby made this hit instead of Ovechkin, he wouldn’t have gotten suspended.  It would’ve been called an “unfortunate play” with Campbell’s skate getting stuck in a rut.

He wouldn’t have gotten suspended because…uh…HE HAS NO PRIOR HISTORY of hits like this.  Nor has he been assessed one game misconduct, let alone multiple, this year.

And for the record, I really hope these 2 games cost Ovie his shot at the Rocket Richard.  Sure, it would give Capitals fans like you, who seem to place winning scoring titles and MVPs above winning Stanley Cups, more ammo to discredit the achievement…but that’s going to happen no matter what.  So it may as well be something Ovechkin did that costs him the hardware.

But, really, what does this have to do with Crosby, anyways?  Exactly nothing, that’s what.

Envy…it’s a sad, sad thing.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 03/15/10 at 05:08 PM ET

Hey PK, I’m a “lug headed Canadien” that will take you up on your bet.

Posted by LD from EDM on 03/15/10 at 05:09 PM ET

Lapierre gets 4, Ovechkin gets 2…..why? which one is the repeat offender? whop is the dirtiest player in the game?.....5 games minimum, league office is a joke! I’m sure this has nothing to do with the NHL wanting Ovechkin to play on National TV next week against the Pens, pitiful!

Posted by killerdg93 from Niagara on 03/15/10 at 05:10 PM ET

Added a comment from the Caps to the post.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 03/15/10 at 05:14 PM ET

Finishing his check? Really, George?

Posted by Ted from the happiest place on earth on 03/15/10 at 05:15 PM ET

What?  LOL
In 06-07 Crosby won the scoring title and Ovechkin played every game that season and Crosby missed three.

Right, but this is 09-10 where Ovie has played 7 fewer games yet only has one goal less than Crosby.

Isn’t it weird how different years have different results?

Posted by Garth on 03/15/10 at 05:18 PM ET

What?  In 06-07 Crosby won the scoring title and Ovechkin played every game that season and Crosby missed three.

- very poor comparison.  Pittsburgh was a strong team that year and Ovie had no one to compliment him. 

Oh Ovie! I just love you! You are the best and SO PASSIONATE.

See there what I did? I COMPLIMENTED him.

Ohhhhh. You meant complement ...

I will bet my life that Cambell is not out for the rest of the season.

Posted by PK from Baltimore

Well then, I hope Campbell comes back.

Posted by Ted from home of free-Ovie fan club on 03/15/10 at 05:21 PM ET

Bruce Boudreau talks…

“Alex pushed [Campbell]. He pushed him. If he doesn’t fall awkwardly into the boards, a) Is it a penalty? b) Are we having this discussion? ... Alex is so much stronger than everyone else. So we’re penalizing him for being strong. ...

“I was so upset for him. I told [GM George McPhee], ‘I can’t tell him.’ I feel so bad for the guy. All he wants to do is play hockey and play the game hard.”

more at Capitals Insider.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 03/15/10 at 05:25 PM ET

I forget who said it, but somebody said the first thing that would happen after an Ovechkin suspension is someone claiming it was solely to help Crosby win the scoring title.

Looks like he/she was right.

Ya i mentioned this in Tony’s blog… it makes me giggle to know that people actually think this way… as well as the ole “well if it was Crysby there would be no suspension, blah blah blah…” Yes this whole league is against the Caps… Ya know peeps…say what you want bout the Pens and the fanbase, but ive never seen an organization with such a complex that the Caps have… usually its just the fans that spout off the stupid things but the management and coaching of that team is just filled with excuses why something happens, and never ever takes onus on whatever it is they or their players have done….

Keep up the persecution complex Caps its quite funny to read…

Posted by samsaidhey on 03/15/10 at 05:33 PM ET

A case of less than deserved and more than (I) expected.

This league is so biased and hates the Caps.

You’ll have to mudwrestle the Red Wings and their fans for that imaginary honour.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 03/15/10 at 05:33 PM ET

Well Bruce, if OV doesn’t push Campbell, a) does Campbell fall awkwardly? b) are we having this conversation?

Posted by Kstewy16 on 03/15/10 at 05:36 PM ET

“I was so upset for him. I told [GM George McPhee], ‘I can’t tell him.’ I feel so bad for the guy. All he wants to do is play hockey and play the game hard.”

And there’s nothing wrong with that, but you can’t make that hit.  I don’t care how big and strong you are, he wasn’t going for a check.  He pushed Campbell.  It was a play that didn’t need to happen or take place.  It was dumb and I’m glad he will be out a couple games.

Posted by pens fan in baltimore on 03/15/10 at 05:39 PM ET

To all of the Pens fans here that have problems with my comments:

1) There is a reason Ovy wins the Richard and Art Ross and why it means so much.  It PROVES he is the best hockey player in the world.  Ovy is better than Crosby.  Ovy won the Calder Trophy over Crosby while Crosby finished in 2nd place.  Just like Ovy will continue to win Richard and Art Ross trophies in the future while Sid the nut sac puncher continues to finish 2nd to him.  Hands down Ovy is the best hockey player in the world.  He scores more goals than anyone else.  He has more assists than your wonderboy.  He hits people harder than anyone else. 

2) The Pens have benefitted from bias in this league more than any other team.  Bettman has no doubt arranged things so that the Pens could stay in Pittsburgh rather than move to Kansas City or Portland.  How else could the Pens have not only got Crosby, but also happened to get high draft picks to get Fleury, Whitney, Malkin, and Staal. 

3) If the Pens won the draft lottery and took Ovy instead of Malkin, all of you jealous Pens fans would be sitting at your computers saying exactly what I’m saying.  Ovechkin is the best hockey player in the world.  If Ovy were born in Toronto, and his name were Gord Ovechkin, he would be the media darling of the NHL and not the soft little crybaby named Cindy.

Face it Pens fans.  You are jealous.  We have the best player in the world.  We have the best record in the NHL.  This year we are going to win the cup.  Ovechkin is better than Cindy and your jealousy always wants you to talk smack on him and act like he’s a villain. 

Just like you couldn’t take the truth that Gretzky was always better than Lemieux, you can’t take the truth that Ovechkin is better than Crosby.

Posted by Bruce from DC on 03/15/10 at 05:43 PM ET

Ovechkin’s offense is the least gutless of the gutless plays we’ve seen in the last two weeks and probably doesn’t warrant a suspension if he
a) didn’t pull this crap so often or
b) if his post-game comments showed a greater awareness of the fact that boarding people is not, and should not be, business as usual.

What gets me are the delusional statements from McPhee and Leonsis. Ovechkin works for them, not the other way around. Suspension or no, their job is to sit Ovechkin down and tell him he can’t be hitting in either the knees or the numbers. Instead they act like his personal PR staff and pretend textbook boarding is somehow a clean hit.

It reeks of denial and, even worse, enabling.

Posted by steve on 03/15/10 at 05:44 PM ET

Bruce, you put a spring in the step of delusional that is commendable.

Posted by Moq from Denmark on 03/15/10 at 05:57 PM ET

He hits people harder than anyone else. 

He doesn’t hit people harder than Matt Cooke, which has clearly done wonders for the latters’ reputation and place in hockey history.

How else could the Pens have not only got Crosby, but also happened to get high draft picks to get Fleury, Whitney, Malkin, and Staal.

They cut salary and tanked. As a Capital fan, you should recognize the tactic.

If the Pens won the draft lottery and took Ovy instead of Malkin, all of you jealous Pens fans would be sitting at your computers saying exactly what I’m saying.

Dunno. Loyalty to Cooke is all but gone and loyalty to Roethlisberger could go off a cliff at any second (I acknowledge this isn’t the same thing). Then again, nobody cared how many times Samuelsson or Kasparaitis kneed or lowbridged a guy, so who knows.

We have the best player in the world.

No argument.

We have the best record in the NHL.

Good for you. Have a party with the fans in San Jose. They’ve got a lot of experience winning the PT.

This year we are going to win the cup.

See above.

Ovechkin is better than Cindy and your jealousy always wants you to talk smack on him and act like he’s a villain. 

Ovechkin is better than “Cindy,” but look at the history of gutless plays by Ovechkin—actually look at the videos—there’s no acting like anybody’s anything. Ovechkin’s not in Matt Cooke/Vaclav Varada territory—yet—but he’s getting there rapidly and your owner and his operations staff (McPhee, Boudreau) aren’t helping the situation.

Just like you couldn’t take the truth that Gretzky was always better than Lemieux,

Depends how you define “better.” No one, anywhere, says Lemieux had more impact on the game or as great a career (2 cups to what…5?, 6 Art Ross trophies to like 12?) and I’ve personally never heard anybody say Gretzky had a broader package of skills.

Posted by steve on 03/15/10 at 06:06 PM ET

Oh boy I am loathe to do this but… whatev…

To all of the Pens fans here that have problems with my comments:
1) There is a reason Ovy wins the Richard and Art Ross and why it means so much.  It PROVES he is the best hockey player in the world.  Ovy is better than Crosby.  Ovy won the Calder Trophy over Crosby while Crosby finished in 2nd place.  Just like Ovy will continue to win Richard and Art Ross trophies in the future while Sid the nut sac puncher continues to finish 2nd to him.  Hands down Ovy is the best hockey player in the world.  He scores more goals than anyone else.  He has more assists than your wonderboy.  He hits people harder than anyone else.

Yea dude…ok that just proves he is the best in the world sure whatever… but while he keeps polishing the awards on his mantle, except the one that matters… it seems like he quits in big pressure games… (game 7’s olympics juniors etc..).. even with the best offensive team in the league the past couple years…

2) The Pens have benefitted from bias in this league more than any other team.  Bettman has no doubt arranged things so that the Pens could stay in Pittsburgh rather than move to Kansas City or Portland.  How else could the Pens have not only got Crosby, but also happened to get high draft picks to get Fleury, Whitney, Malkin, and Staal. 

yeah Pittsburgh is the only city eva to make a threat to leave a city in order to finagle a good deal for a new complex… Getting those picks meant sucking for a few years… How about the Caps… youve been there too ya know… Or are you saying you would rather have drafted Crosby Malkin Staal etc….as for bias in the league… not even gonna get into that… you can keep believing that though if it helps you sleep

3) If the Pens won the draft lottery and took Ovy instead of Malkin, all of you jealous Pens fans would be sitting at your computers saying exactly what I’m saying.  Ovechkin is the best hockey player in the world.  If Ovy were born in Toronto, and his name were Gord Ovechkin, he would be the media darling of the NHL and not the soft little crybaby named Cindy.

well no doubt we would be saying Ovi is the best if he was a pen… but unlike sounding like a 10 year old brat we would be espousing the fact of how great he is rather than constantly comparing him to someone else and saying there is a league bias and conspiracy against him…However, if Ovechkin had the immense pressure and the millions of cameras on him from day 1 do you think he would have been able to handle it? Do you think he could have potted over 100 points as an 18 year old in the NHL?

Face it Pens fans.  You are jealous.  We have the best player in the world.  We have the best record in the NHL.  This year we are going to win the cup.  Ovechkin is better than Cindy and your jealousy always wants you to talk smack on him and act like he’s a villain. 

Win the cup first then you can talk your smack. Best records mean jack when you get to the playoffs… lets see if your great 8 and his sidekick jizz can handle it this year before claiming the cup….

Just like you couldn’t take the truth that Gretzky was always better than Lemieux, you can’t take the truth that Ovechkin is better than Crosby.

Just like you cant handle the truth that the Caps have never won a cup? and have lost how many playoff series to the Pens?

Keep crying Bruce from DC…

Posted by samsaidhey on 03/15/10 at 06:10 PM ET

I’m not going to get into the argument over who’s better, but this:

This year we are going to win the cup.

is absolutely deusional, unless you’re talking about some golf trophy.

Posted by Garth on 03/15/10 at 06:11 PM ET

Only reason OV got 2 instead of 4 because he was not laughing after he destroyed the guy unlike lapierre

Posted by nhl on 03/15/10 at 06:13 PM ET

Bruce, you are hilarious. Ovechkin can win all the individual awards for the next ten years. I’ll take Stanley Cups. Prepare to get beaten in the playoffs by the Penguins again. The Penguins are a TEAM. The Capitals are a collection of INDIVIDUALS. But please keep the hilarity coming.

Posted by cs6687 on 03/15/10 at 06:17 PM ET

There is a reason Ovy wins the Richard and Art Ross and why it means so much.  It PROVES he is the best hockey player in the world.

Crosby has a Stanley Cup, scored the OT winning goal for an Olympics gold medal and beat Superstar Max with pucks in the dryer, all while Ovechkin has three game misconducts. Take that! See what I did there? That makes as much sense as your argument.

Posted by Ted from drowning in happiness it was only 2 games on 03/15/10 at 06:21 PM ET

Just another reason why Ovechkin ISN’T and NEVER will be the face of the NHL. How would any professional league sell this guy as a role model and ambassador to the game?????

Posted by IronFist on 03/15/10 at 06:59 PM ET

Ted Leonsis is completely right on in this issue.  You can’t suspend your league MVP for this when Cooke gets nothing.

Posted by Bruce from DC on 03/15/10 at 05:13 PM ET

This is the thing with Teddy and Bruce Boudreau, and you obviously, just because you’re the reigning MVP, it doesn’t mean you can run around with your head cut off.

Also, as much as i don’t want to get into this argument, if OV and his fans don’t want him to lose the Rocket Richard trophy (because it clearly guarantees a cup victory) because he’s missed games, maybe he should stop getting suspended.  I can only imagine the outcry if Crosby scores more, he’ll have done it in more games, so people will think he should apologize for it.

I remember when Crosby had the ankle sprain, he was reigning Art Ross, Pearson and Hart trophy winner, while leading the league in scoring when he went down for the season (basically) but that didn’t guarantee he’d get them again even if he didn’t play all the games.

Posted by Greg on 03/15/10 at 07:10 PM ET

Not that the League ever had credibility, but Ovechkin’s superstar status just earned him a bye. There couldn’t be a better example of double standards and bush league rule system than this call. It’s absolutely clear cut.

Lapierre got 4 for the same play, but as Lapierre isn’t a drawcard (or a scoring leader) he gets the book thrown at him. It’s a caste system where stars get preferential treatment and journeymen eat it. Cooke just lucked out because in his case a superstar (Mike Richards) had set the precendent.

I know there’s an adjustment of rules happening here. Players are getting faster and stronger and the League is now faced with ruling on hits that not too long ago were just fine and dandy. It’s an adjustment that needs to be made because if they don’t adjust the rule book, someone’s going to get killed - simple as that. Unfortunately Colin Campbell doesn’t seem to have the balls to make temporary rulings fair and consistent. It’s par for the course for the NHL. Weak, weak, weak…

Posted by Guy10 from Oz on 03/15/10 at 07:45 PM ET

What are your excuses going to be when Ovy raises Lord Stanley over his head this upcoming June?

You are all just Pens fans that are Ovy haters and can’t accept the fact that he is the best in the world and he plays on the Capitals. 

There is no team better than the Caps in the NHL this year.  I can’t wait to shut all of you Pens fans up when Ovy skates around the ice with the cup and gets the Conn Smyth, another thing your boy wonder Crysby couldn’t do. 

In the biggest series of his career, Crysby choked and had to rely on his Frenchie buddy to shoot pucks at the dryer to save him.

Posted by Bruce from DC on 03/15/10 at 08:34 PM ET

Posted by Bruce from DC on 03/15/10 at 06:43 PM ET

1.  Funny how you leave out the things Sid has that Ovie doesn’t.  Like, oh, two Eastern Conference Championships and a Stanley Cup.  That, my dear, little, delusional friend…is what matters.  Number Eight can have all those Art Ross, Hart and Rocket Richard trophies he (and you) want.  I’ll take Stanley Cups any day of the week over those individual awards (which are nice to see the players on your favorite team win, don’t get me wrong - and in case you’ve forgotten…Ovie only has one Art Ross…the same number as Sid and Geno), twice on Tuesdays.

2.  Yeah, all that bias.  Gary Bettman helped them get to the Finals two years in a row, trade for Hossa, Dupuis, Gill, Guerin, Kunitz, etc.  Helped them come back from a 3-0 hole in game 6 against the Flyers…because he forced Dan Carcillo to fight with his team up three goals.  Helped them beat the Capitals 6-2 in Washington in Game 7 last year by putting a laxative in Varly’s pre-game Gatorade in order for him to shit the bed.  Helped them sweep the Canes by doing the same thing to Cam Ward.  And we all know that the NHL hates the Red Wings.  He also helped them be the worst team in the league for several years to get all those high draft picks and win that lottery for Sidney Crosby (because, we all know the Caps have NEVER won any kind of draft lottery…oh wait…).  It’s ALL fixed.  How can I argue with all of these full-proof facts?  Oh…

3. 

f the Pens won the draft lottery and took Ovy instead of Malkin, all of you jealous Pens fans would be sitting at your computers saying exactly what I’m saying.

Maybe.  But you guys would be saying the same things and actually SEEING the same things that we see in him.  Talented.  Dirty.  Reckless.

Actually, you’d probably leave out the talented part, say Gary Bettman is bias towards Ovechkin and the Pens…and call him something cute, like “Alexandria”.  Aww.

The best record in the NHL?  Really?  We all saw what that got the Sharks last year.  So, uh, yeah.  Go ahead and put all your eggs in THAT basket.

All-in-all, great post though, Brucey. 

What.  A.  Joke.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 03/15/10 at 08:40 PM ET

dont have a problem with him being suspended, and i woudn’t had a problem with a no suspension. What I have a problem with is the stupid fn league of inconsistent idiots. Richards and Cooke needed to be suspended. What they did was way worse then this. They need to suspend these guys the length of the injured player IMO. That would stop a bunch of the stupid shit. You can tell what is intentional and what isn’t. It doesn’t appear that what Ovie did was intentional, but cooke on savard, cmon.  The NHL needs to get their heads out of their ass, becuase if I was bad at my job as these guys are I’d been fired a long ass time ago.

Posted by ME on 03/15/10 at 09:36 PM ET

I’ll tell you What. A. Joke is. 

The biggest joke is how Matt Cooke can get off with no suspension for trying to take off a guy’s head and ending his season and Ovy is given 2 games for Campbell’s awkward fall because the toe of his skate was caught in the ice.

Posted by Bruce from DC on 03/15/10 at 10:32 PM ET

Hands down Ovy is the best hockey player in the world.  He scores more goals than anyone else.  He has more assists than your wonderboy.  He hits people harder than anyone else.

Wait! You forgot one! He has the most game misconducts this season! Woohoo Ovie!

In the biggest series of his career, Crysby choked and had to rely on his Frenchie buddy to shoot pucks at the dryer to save him.

Please see Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semi finals for the definition of choke. It’s filed under O.

Bruce, congratulations for reinforcing the reputation Caps fans have in the hockey community.

Posted by AYKM on 03/15/10 at 10:49 PM ET

Brucey….oh Brucey….your mother just called down into the basement.  Wants to know if you are done with your homework because it’s time for bed.  Yes, and you can have some cookies and milk before you cuddle up with your stuffed OV toy. 

Loser fanboy.

Posted by VAHockeyFan on 03/15/10 at 10:55 PM ET

As a Pens Fan as much as we’d all like to see our players win all the individual trophies we really would be more disappointed in losing a chance to win the cup then anything.  If Sid won the Hart, Art Ross and Rocket Richard this year and we lost in the first round we’d all be angry and we wouldnt really care that Sid won those awards.

This is a TEAM game, awards are nice, they pad your career but we’re in it to win the last game of the year EVERY year. And any year we dont win it will be a disaster to us.

You guys had a better record last year it didnt do anything for you. Until you guys really improve your defense core and goaltending you will continue to fall to us.  We’ll gladly dump the puck in at Joe Corvo every shift and watch him cough up the puck to us for goals.  We’ll watch Semin and Green fold up again and enjoy it.

Should Matt Cooke have been suspended?? Absolutely I thought so it was a dirty play but not an illegal play (although it should and will be) And really at this point I wouldnt mind Matt Cooke having a nice rest before the playoffs before he beats up on your Defense again with the forecheck. 

Ovechkin regardless if he’s “too strong” or whatever has to know he can’t do what he did, and it led to another player losing the rest of his season too.  He’s got all the physical talents in the world but he needs to get over himself and think he’s above the game and won’t be punished for it. He doesnt need to drastically change his style but he needs to also respect the players and when they’re vulnerable.

You guys can bask in all the glory you have now and who knows maybe you’ll beat us next week but when it matters in May or June the same thing will happen as last year we’ll own you and make you guys quit like you did on your own ice.

Win all the regular season awards and accolades you want we’ll take the postseason awards.

Posted by Mike on 03/15/10 at 11:05 PM ET

I find it pretty funny that all you pens fans are saying 2 games is not enough, etc etc.  Malkin did pretty much the exact same hit on Mitchell, and got nothing.  Honestly I think ovechkin does deserve maybe a few more games for the hit, but pens fans should have nothing to say, since malkin got nothing and Im sure they weren’t complaining then either.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 03/15/10 at 11:28 PM ET

I’ll tell you What. A. Joke is. 

The biggest joke is how Matt Cooke can get off with no suspension for trying to take off a guy’s head and ending his season and Ovy is given 2 games for Campbell’s awkward fall because the toe of his skate was caught in the ice.

And because he shoved him, arguably from behind, in a vulnerable place on the ice - i.e. real close to the boards.  Reckless.  Annnnnd, I’m pretty sure Campbell’s skate would’ve gotten “caught in the ice” if he wouldn’t have been pushed, from behind, by Ovechkin.

If he doesn’t have the reputation that he does, he doesn’t get suspended.  Plain and simple.  But he does.  So he did.

Like I said before, I feel that Cooke should’ve been suspended.  No doubt about that. 

Why wasn’t he?  That’s debatable (partly because there was no penalty assessed on the play itself, partly because the hit isn’t necessarily illegal in the NHL right now, probably).  But it has nothing to do with Ovechkin’s hit and subsequent suspension.

Ovie needs to learn to not stick his legs out when he’s going to miss a hit and go knee-on-knee with players.  He needs to learn not to hit a player when he can see the name and number on said player’s jersey.

It’s hard not to like watching him play.  He’s a spectacular offensive talent and dangerous anytime he’s around the puck.  The jersey he wears, the way he seems to lack respect for his opponents and dirty/reckless play is why I don’t particularly care for him.

It’d be nice to see him take responsibility for his actions (his coaches and owner, too) instead of ducking criticism and learn from his mistakes.  Because if he doesn’t, there will be a number of suspensions in his future, too.

Posted by Flashtastick56 from Milford, CT on 03/16/10 at 12:03 AM ET

I have to say it is pretty cool to cheer for a team that is destined to win because the fix is in.  No more nail biting, no more falling of the couch when the puck hits the post.  Never have to worry about Detroit, New Jersey, Philadelphia, or the Caps again.  Cool.  The fix is in!  So, what happens to this theory if the Pens don’t win?

Posted by old on 03/16/10 at 01:36 AM ET

Between your fox sports affiliate hiding replays and the zamboni drivers leaving patches in front of fluery, how can the pens lose?

Posted by redxblack from Akron Ohio on 03/16/10 at 06:57 AM ET

Maybe when Ted Leonsis learns about hockey, many of the bandwagon Cap fans will learn as well. The fact that the Caps organization is upset that Ovechkin is missing two games and is devastated seems to be misplaced considering that the Hawks are without a player for the rest of the year.

News flash to Bruce Boudreau the idea that it was just a push is nonsense, that it wasn’t dangerous is just ignoring the obvious. Campbell was injured on a hit from behind into the boards and is out for the year, so yes it was a dangerous play. Yes the boards were there when he was pushed and he wouldn’t have fallen if he wasn’t pushed. So take out the two main circumstances of the hit and yes nothing was wrong!  Kind of like it wouldn’t have been spearing if he didn’t have a stick.

Stop defending Ovechkin because Cooke is a bigger idiot. Colin the Incompetent was wrong not to suspend Cooke,  get over it. If you base your opinion on what Colin thinks is right you are driving right off a cliff with your logic. Two games is about right considering he already was tossed from the game. Being MVP should only affect the officiating in the NBA and you play by Jordan rules.

Posted by hockey1919 from montreal on 03/16/10 at 08:06 AM ET

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

“We have no problem with the way Alex tried to finish his check.

I would bet my next year of paychecks that if the roles were reversed and Ovechkin was the one with broken bones, McPhee would be singing a very different tune.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/16/10 at 11:00 AM ET

Suspended?  For what?  The NHL wants to take checking out of the league?

no, they want to take DANGEROUS checks out of the game.  see the difference?

If Crosby made this hit instead of Ovechkin, he wouldn’t have gotten suspended.

does Crosby have a history of this kind of thing?

This league is so biased and hates the Caps

LMFAO

oh the irony.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/16/10 at 11:04 AM ET

2) The Pens have benefitted from bias in this league more than any other team.  Bettman has no doubt arranged things so that the Pens could stay in Pittsburgh rather than move to Kansas City or Portland.  How else could the Pens have not only got Crosby, but also happened to get high draft picks to get Fleury, Whitney, Malkin, and Staal. 

LMFAO

this, above all else, proves what an idiot you are.  you do realize there is a very well-defined, transparent, easy-to-understand system that determines who gets what draft picks, right?  jeez you are dumb.  nobody is rigging draft picks.  take off your tinfoil hat.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/16/10 at 11:08 AM ET

I find it pretty funny that all you pens fans are saying 2 games is not enough, etc etc.  Malkin did pretty much the exact same hit on Mitchell, and got nothing. 

how many prior game misconducts does Malkin have?

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that’s what I thought.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/16/10 at 11:13 AM ET

They need to suspend these guys the length of the injured player IMO.

I have heard this before, and completely disagree.  the punishment should be based upon the potential for injury, not the actual injury.  nobody should get off easy because the other guy was lucky and didn’t get injured.

nowhere in any rulebook should it ever say “if you check somebody from behind into the boards AND they’re injured, you get a penalty.”  they penalize all boarding, because it’s all dangerous, regardless of the actual outcome of a specific play.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/16/10 at 11:38 AM ET

I wonder why there is no Youtube video, nor discussion, about Torres’ hit on Darren Helm the other night.  it was a clear blind-side head-shot.  doesn’t the league have the authority to review any play they want to, penalized or not, to dole out supplementary discipline.

Torres doesn’t exactly have a clean history when it comes to this sort of thing, either.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 03/16/10 at 11:57 AM ET

The Crosby draft was a league contrived lottery system, not the normal draft lottery due to the lockout. It would not be completely unreasonable to surmise that the NHL established a set of arbitrary rules that would skew the outcome while not entirely pre-ordaining wou would win the draft.  This is purely from memory, but if I recall correctly the Penguins and Rangers were teams that had a higher probability of winning the Crosby lottery.

Posted by hockey1919 from montreal on 03/16/10 at 03:06 PM ET

The Crosby draft was a league contrived lottery system, not the normal draft lottery due to the lockout.

You do realize the normal lottery would have given Pittsburgh a 48% chance of drafting 1st overall, not an 18% chance or whatever it ended up being.

Posted by steve on 03/16/10 at 03:40 PM ET

This is just right. Maintaining a just and clean tournament means having to punish anyone who has gone a little overboard. The decision to suspend him is not suppose to be questioned regardless of his abilities and records. He made a bad mistake he must live with it as well.

Posted by Terrie A. Rader from Toronto, Canada on 03/17/10 at 04:37 AM ET