The laughable game misconduct and the borderline insane two game suspension that followed are Exhibit A as to why the NHL will not be taken seriously by the sporting establishment for the foreseeable future. In a season where deliberate, vicious, and debilitating shots to the head have become a weekly event, the NHL elects to suspend Ovechkin for an ill-advised check that inadvertantly caused an injury only because of his proximity to the boards.
If that check (a push really) happened at center ice it would not even have warranted a comment - unlike the growing list of head shot incidents culminating with theMatt Cooke incident. That's right, Ovie got suspended because of geography. Make no mistake - the Canadian dominated NHL heirarchy has targeted Ovechkin and he will not get any breaks.
Meanwhile the Caps showed why they are leading this pitiful league in points. Missing their main man for almost the entire game and falling behind by three goals, they made it all up at once with a third period two and a half minute three goal blitz. Chicago managed only one shot the entire period. The third best team in the league Blackhawks.
Backstrom's overtime goal was a season highlight and one more indication that he will be *very* expensive to sign this Summer. I'll be shocked if he gets less than Eight Million a year.
The four-on-four breakdown that resulted in the Blackhawks first goal was dis-quieting. I know there are new players out there but that one amounted to a giveaway goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment