Capitals star forward Alex Ovechkin was suspended two games by the NHL on Monday afternoon for his boarding penalty Sunday on Chicago 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 broke his collarbone and several ribs and could miss the rest of the regular season, according to published reports in multiple Chicago newspapers.
Ovechkin will sit out Tuesday’s road game against the Florida Panthers and Thursday’s road game against the Carolina Hurricanes. He also forfeits $232,645.40 in salary. In a statement, Colin Campbell, NHL senior vice president and director of hockey operations, called the hit “reckless” and referred to Ovechkin as a repeat offender.
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 also committed a boarding penalty on Buffalo’s Patrick Kaleta on Nov. 25. That drew a major penalty for boarding, 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 also was 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.
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 a 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.
