After NHL uber-star Alex Ovechkin was awarded a boarding major and game misconduct for hit on Patrick Kaleta Wednesday night, there was an impassioned outcry that the league must suspend him or face further accusations of favoritism. Word comes today that the NHL has decided not to suspend the star, despite a hit that was similar to the ones that led to James Neal and Tuomo Ruutu suspensions.
Alex Ovechkin Will Not Face Suspension For Controversial Hit
↵Here is video of the hit. Just watch the play, and try not to allow the Buffalo announcers to sway your opinion.
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↵The Wheel of Justice has spun, and it’s outcome is sure to fire up even more talk that the NHL cares more about it’s stars than the safety of it’s players. Japers’ Rink says that while this is controversial, the NHL got the call right:
↵↵Kaleta has the puck. He’s positioned just about a foot away from the boards, when he glances up and to the left. We can’t see him at home, but there’s no way Kaleta misses Ovechkin barreling toward him. And instead of getting rid of the puck quickly and moving away…he turns. He stupidly puts himself in a vulnerable position, and yet Ovechkin still manages to catch him with a shoulder – no hit from behind, no elbow to the head. Just speed, power, two inches and 53 pounds on Kaleta that propel him into the boards.
↵It’s maybe - maybe - a two-minute minor for boarding. We can’t be so blind in our loyalty as to ignore the fact that Ovechkin often straddles the line between legal and illegal checks, and this was right in that gray area. Even giving Ovechkin a five-minute major for the hit is somewhat understandable (albeit wrong) given the fact that the referees had a split second to make the call, that there’s been increased pressure to crack down on borderline hits, and that Kaleta was injured on the play.
↵Worthy of a suspension, though? Not even close.
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