May 24, 2013

NHL’s culture of violence hurts the players and the game

April 18, 2012 by

Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom was assessed a match penalty for his cross-check of Boston Bruins forward Rich Peverley at the end of the Caps 4-3 loss in Game Three Monday night. Tuesday evening, NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan upheld the automatic suspension that came with the match penalty; Backstrom must miss Thursday’s Game Four, putting the Capitals behind the eight-ball for what could be the pivotal game of the series.

Today, the Caps took a slightly strange – but bold — step nonetheless and issued a press release on Backstrom’s suspension:

We disagree with the NHL’s decision to suspend Nicklas Backstrom.  This has been a competitive and physical series, and we do not understand why a suspension was imposed in this case while other incidents in this series have not been reviewed. Our singular focus now is on Game 4, and we look forward to the energy that our great fans provide.

The statement is carefully worded to avoid further discipline or fine by the league offices, but the message is clear: “We’re not happy with the way this series is being officiated.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caps/NHL, More Sports Tagged With: , , , ,

Ovechkin suspended, Michalek cleared for separate hits on Sunday

January 23, 2012 by

The NHL announced this afternoon that Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin will be suspended for 3 games and fined an $154,677.75 for his hit on Zbynek Michalek Sunday in the Caps 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Ovechkin was not called for a penalty on the play.

NHL Vice President Brendan Shanahan delivered the ruling a little after 6:30 pm. He cited the fact that Ovechkin’s skates left the ice prior to initial contact with Michalek, and that Ovechkin made contact with Michalek’s head on the follow-through, as the reason for the length of the suspension.

In a separate incident later in the game, Michalek was penalized for a hit on the Caps Matt Hendricks where the Pens’ forward hit Hendricks with his elbow in the head along the boards.  Michalek was cleared by the NHL, which chose not to fine or suspend the player.  Hendricks told reporters after Caps practice today that “I don’t think it was a clean hit,” but apparently the league office didn’t think the blatant elbow was reason enough for suspension.

Watching the replay, especially in slow motion, one can understand why Ovechkin was suspended for the hit.  He clearly jumps before contact is made, and as Shanahan clearly stated in the suspension video, once Ovechkin left the ice he was responsible for any contact made with Michalek. And though initial contact was shoulder-to-shoulder, Ovechkin’s momentum clearly carried him through to Michalek’s head.

What’s not understandable is how Michalek avoided supplementary discipline for his blatant and intentional elbow to Hendricks’ head.  There is no ambiguity, no questioning the intent or motive.  Michalek intentionally elbowed Hendricks in the head.  Period.  Sometimes plays along the boards can get muddied, where intent is not as clear as an open ice elbow, such as the one delivered by Rene Bourque on Nicklas Backstrom.  But that’s not the case here.  It’s as clear as Ovechkin jumping to hit Michalek that Michalek intentionally elbowed Hendricks in the head.

One has to wonder if Hendricks were a skilled player, or injured, if Michalek would have faced supplementary discipline.  The NHL is making great strides in supplementary discipline, and the suspension videos are commendable.  But meting out discipline based on injury — instead of intent — is still lamentable.

CAPS NOTES:  The Capitals returned defenseman Tomas Kundratek to AHL Hershey today.  Kundratek played in five games with the Caps, making his NHL debut Jan. 11.  He did not register a point and collected two penalty minutes in his five games.

Nicklas Backstrom skated without pads for about five minutes before practice, marking the first time the Swedish pivot has taken to the ice since Jan. 6, three days afer being elbowed by then-Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque.  Backstrom is on the injured list for the Caps and is out indefinitely with concussion-like symptoms.

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Dave Nichols is Editor-in-Chief of District Sports Page. He is credentialed to cover the Nats and the Caps, and previously wrote Nats News Network and Caps News Network. Dave’s first sports hero was Bobby Dandridge. Follow Dave’s Capitals coverage on Twitter @CapitalsDSP.

Filed Under: Caps/NHL Tagged With: , , , , ,

New NHL Discipline Sheriff Brendan Shanahan Has Work Cut Out for Him

October 3, 2011 by

In the wake of recent high-profile, and in one instance career-ending, injuries to NHLers as a result of head shots, fans will see the shoe thrown this season as the league seeks to enforce stricter rules against head shots. Previous language in NHL Rule 48 addressed only hits to the head that came from the lateral or blindside; the revised rule will penalize a player for any hit to an opponent’s head that makes the head the primary point of contact.

Of course revising the language of Rule 48 has not come without controversy. While the NHL publicly aims to end head shots, many feel that a minor penalty (with follow-up discipline notwithstanding) is not harsh enough punishment if the offender had true “intent to injure.” Others feel that despite the leagues’ best efforts, there is really no way to eliminate all risk of player injury in a full-contact game that moves at the speed of light. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Caps/NHL Tagged With: ,