Iced Tea
12-04-06, 1:53 AM
No suspension expected for Ovechkin
TSN.ca Staff with files
12/3/2006 1:01:12 PM
Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals can breathe a sigh of relief, as it appears the star forward will be not attend any hearings nor face a suspension for his hit on Buffalo's Daniel Briere on Saturday night.
Sources tell TSN that Ovechkin may be fined for his actions, which earned him a five-minute major and a game misconduct in Washington's 7-4 victory over Buffalo. He was tossed late in the second period, just after scoring his 17th goal of the season. Buffalo's Paul Gaustad pummelled Ovechkin, who didn't throw a punch in retaliation.
"He got turned around and I hit him," Ovechkin said Saturday. "I didn't want to give him some injury. It was an accident."
Ovechkin drew an automatic US $100 fine for the hit.
"He was behind me - I couldn't see it," Briere added after the game. "The puck was going deep and I was going for a (line) change. It was definitely late and from behind. It's tough to say whether he deserves a suspension."
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff believed Ovechkin deserves additional punishment.
"(Briere) was defenceless. He went headfirst into the boards," Ruff said. "I think if (Washington) looked at it through their eyes and it was Ovechkin going headfirst into the wall, I think they'd feel the same way. We don't need those plays in the game."
Ovechkin, Gaustad and Buffalo's Adam Mair were handed game misconducts, and 79 minutes in penalties were assessed following the fracas.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=187011&hubname=
$100 fine? What a load. Ovechkin should have got at least a 3 - 5 game holiday.
It shouldn't matter who Ovechkin is, the NHL office should be judging on the action alone, not whether the guilty player is a star or 3rd liner.
TSN.ca Staff with files
12/3/2006 1:01:12 PM
Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals can breathe a sigh of relief, as it appears the star forward will be not attend any hearings nor face a suspension for his hit on Buffalo's Daniel Briere on Saturday night.
Sources tell TSN that Ovechkin may be fined for his actions, which earned him a five-minute major and a game misconduct in Washington's 7-4 victory over Buffalo. He was tossed late in the second period, just after scoring his 17th goal of the season. Buffalo's Paul Gaustad pummelled Ovechkin, who didn't throw a punch in retaliation.
"He got turned around and I hit him," Ovechkin said Saturday. "I didn't want to give him some injury. It was an accident."
Ovechkin drew an automatic US $100 fine for the hit.
"He was behind me - I couldn't see it," Briere added after the game. "The puck was going deep and I was going for a (line) change. It was definitely late and from behind. It's tough to say whether he deserves a suspension."
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff believed Ovechkin deserves additional punishment.
"(Briere) was defenceless. He went headfirst into the boards," Ruff said. "I think if (Washington) looked at it through their eyes and it was Ovechkin going headfirst into the wall, I think they'd feel the same way. We don't need those plays in the game."
Ovechkin, Gaustad and Buffalo's Adam Mair were handed game misconducts, and 79 minutes in penalties were assessed following the fracas.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=187011&hubname=
$100 fine? What a load. Ovechkin should have got at least a 3 - 5 game holiday.
It shouldn't matter who Ovechkin is, the NHL office should be judging on the action alone, not whether the guilty player is a star or 3rd liner.