Ovechkin banned two games for Campbell hit

[Forkboy]

Alex Ovechkin was suspended for two games without pay by the National Hockey League on Monday for his hit on Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell early in Sunday's game in Chicago that reportedly has ended Campbell's regular season.

NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell ruled that it was a "reckless" hit by Ovechkin, who received a five-minute boarding major and a game misconduct on the play that occurred 12:16 into the first period.

Ovechkin, now considered a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, forfeits $232,645.40 in salary, based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (193). The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Campbell reportedly suffered a broken clavicle and broken ribs after Ovechkin shoved him into the end boards. He was scheduled to meet with a team doctor Monday afternoon for further evaluation.

Ovechkin, who has three game misconducts this season, will miss Tuesday's game at Florida and Thursday's at Carolina. He's eligible to return Saturday at Tampa Bay. Washington has already clinched the Southeast Division title and is 6-2 without Ovechkin this season.

"We have no problem with the way Alex tried to finish his check," Capitals Vice President and GM George McPhee said in a statement. "Unfortunately, an injury resulted. We are disappointed with the suspension but do not want to comment further."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=521482

Nice spin by McPhee. Ovechkin is getting a rep he may not want, but one he's earning.

[madinmaryland]

1. Heh! NHL mirroring the life of Harding and Carrigan!!

At least the girls have teeth!!

FREE THE FORKBOY!!

[Forkboy]

2. You crazy bastard!

:rofl:

[JonLP24]

3. I was wondering where you've been

Speaking of cheap shots I'm surprised you haven't mentioned that Penguins guy against the Bruins a couple of weeks ago(if you have a clue what I'm saying). Also I was meaning to ask you if these were good moves----http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=215x139858 :hi:

[Forkboy]

4. None of those moves are marquee deals, but none hurt them either.

And you don't want to know what I think of Cooke's hit on Savard except that I wish I could line up opposite Cooke for a couple of shifts. Cooke has already been suspended twice for hits like that...this hit wasn't an accident, and someone needs to address this...the League decided they wouldn't. Time for someone else to have a talk with Cooke.

As for the Yotes...dude...they just keep playing solid ass hockey. I watch them and see no reason why they can't be a thorn in the side of all the teams above them. I wouldn't want to draw them in the first round. Fuck that. They believe in themselves, and in sports that's half the battle. Simply put, you don't win 40+ games in the NHL by acccident. I love what I've seen from them and will easily be rooting for them in the playoffs....after Chicago and Vancouver (sorry, my Chicago thing goes way back to my childhood and the Hawks and Bears, and besides, I picked Chi and Van 1 and 2 this year in the West). :)

[hughee99]

5. Instead of shoving him into the boards, he would have been better

to blindside him with a shoulder to the head. No suspensions or fines for that.

[Forkboy]

6. ....

:thumbsup:

[Upton]

7. I think this is about right..

thing is, I've noticed some remarks on ESPN comparing Ovechkin's hit on Campbell to Lapierre's on Scott Nichol..and wondering why the Russian didn't get the same number of games. I don't see that...Lapierre's hit was far worse...fragrantly illegal and dirty. Nichol is just lucky he didn't suffer a serious injury.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nis1rZQWC8c&featu

[joeybee12]

8. I saw that hit...send him back to Communist Russia...

...where they'll send him to Siberia.

It was dirty and uncalled for...a longer suspension is warranted.