Let the lobbying begin. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau wasn’t happy that Rangers defenseman Marc Staal clipped Mike Green with the back of his upper arm in the second period of Sunday’s 3-2 playoff loss to the New York Rangers. Given Green’s recent issues with concussions there is some obvious sensitivity there.
Staal swung his arm around just after Green had dropped the puck to teammate Jason Arnott and knocked the Washington defenseman to the ice. Green was on his knees for a several seconds, but few noticed because Alex Ovechkin had tipped home a pass by Arnott to tie the game. Boudreau had some extended thoughts on the play:
“It was a dirty hit. I hope the league looks at it. I listened to all the experts last night on the [Raffi] Torres hit on [Chicago defenseman Brent] Seabrook. They’re all saying ‘There’s no puck, it’s not a hockey play. The guy is in a vulnerable position and he hits the head. That’s exactly what we’re trying to get out of the league, get out of the game. Staal comes in, there’s no puck he takes his arm he swings it at his head, but it’s all forgotten because we score a goal to tie the game up. But it shouldn’t be forgotten. And it’s not the only time they targeted Mike’s head. And they targeted it a few times. And that’s what we want to get out of the game.”
I’m going to go ahead and guess the Rangers vehemently disagree with that assessment. But this is prevalent in any playoff series. As soon as the New York media gets wind of these comments John Tortorella will respond – if not via the press then certainly behind the scenes with the series’ supervisor of officials.
Boudreau said Green “is fine” and that – as far as he knew – he didn’t need to go through the NHL’s concussion protocol established this year. Not sure why that needed a qualifier. But Boudreau’s claim was that the period ended shortly after and Green was back out on the ice in the third and played the rest of the game. Boudreau also said New York is targeting Green, referencing a high hit he took in Game 2.
“They’re coming after him and [Rangers forward Brandon] Prust left his feet in the first period and went at the head as well,” Boudreau said. “And Mike threw a punch at him when he was gone. I have no problem with hitting – let’s hit as hard as we can. That’s what this game is all about. But you cannot target the head.”
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