Caps forward Alex Ovechkin has been suspended by the NHL for two games thanks to his boarding penalty on Sunday against Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell. It is the second suspension for Ovechkin this season and adds to a growing list of controversial hits by the two-time Hart Trophy winner.
Campbell, according to multiple newspaper reports in Chicago, broke his collarbone and several ribs and will likely miss the rest of the regular season. Ovechkin will sit out Tuesday night’s road game against the Florida Panthers and Thursday’s road game at the Carolina Hurricanes. He also loses $232,645.40 in salary. On-ice officials handed Ovechkin a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct after the hit on Campbell. Ovechkin chased down Campbell from behind 7 minutes, 44 seconds into the first period and when they reached the Chicago goal line he pushed the defenseman into the end boards. Campbell landed awkwardly on his neck and right shoulder and did not return to the contest.
It is the third time Ovechkin has been ejected from a game this season. The 24-year-old committed a boarding penalty on Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta on Nov. 25. That drew a major penalty, a game misconduct and an automatic $200 fine. Just five days later against Carolina, Ovechkin initiated knee-on-knee contact with Hurricanes defenseman Tim Gleason. That penalty earned him a two-game suspension without pay, costing him $98,844.16 in salary. Ovechkin was also fined $2,500 for a tripping penalty – a slew foot – on Atlanta Thrashers forward Rich Peverley in the final seconds of a game on Oct. 22. Colin Campbell, NHL senior vice president and director of hockey operations, said in a statement that Ovechkin’s punishment was for a dangerous hit and for being a repeat offender.
Ovechkin leads the race for the NHL scoring title with 96 points despite missing eight games already this season – six to injury and two to suspension for the Gleason hit. He leads Vancouver’s Henrik Sedin by three points for the overall NHL points lead and with 44 goals is one behind Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby.
