The Washington Capitals visited the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on an early Sunday matchup. It was a highly anticipated game, played nationally in the US on NBC as their 'Game of the Week'.
With the game already 1 - 0 on a Jonathan Towes goal at the 7:00 minute mark of the first period, Alexander Ovechkin pushed Hawks dman Brian Campbell heavily into the boards. Ovechkin instantly knew he was going to the box, and as he was sitting in the 'sin bin' he was told by a linesman that he was finished for the day. He was called for a boarding major and a game misconduct, and left the game much to the delight of the 18,000 + Hawks faithful.
On the 5 minute powerplay, the Hawks went up 2 - 0 on Toews second of the afternoon.
The only thing on the score sheet in the second period is a goal by John Madden, which gave the Hawks a three goal advantage. 3 - 0 Hawks after a period and a half. Pierre McQuire was between the benches and noted the body language on the Caps bench. They looked lost without their captain. As the clock wound down on the second period, a scuffle ensued that saw three guys head into the room knowing they would start the third in the box. The Caps would have a powerplay to start the third on fresh ice.
The Caps failed to produce on their first pp of the third. But at the 3:51 mark, Hawks Hendry took a double minor after a high stick on Semin cut # 28 under the chin. On the pp, Brooks Laich netted his 22nd of the season. Cue the comeback - 3 - 1 Hawks. Hawks Colin Fraser earned himself 2 minutes for highsticking on a delayed call and that put the Caps on a 5 on 3 for two full minutes, as the double minor was still being served. Just as the 5 on 3 ended, Nicklas Backstrom nets his 27th of the season and 13 seconds after that, Eric Fehr tied it up 3 - 3. The rest of the period saw the Hawks back on their heels, the Caps having changed the momentum of the game completely. After 60 regulation minutes, the score was tied 3 - 3 and headed to OT.
With three minutes elapsed in the third period, Nicklas Backstrom gave the puck away to Hawks Troy Brouwer at his own defensive zone. Brouwer was going in on a partial break on Caps goalie Jose Theodore, and Backstrom used his deceptive speed to catch up to him and sweep the puck away from Brouwer. He didn't get a shot off. The puck hit the boards and Backie scooped it up in his own zone. He skated down the left wing, came up the middle in the offensive zone, burned Hawks dman Brent Seabrook (who looked silly spinning around) on a nifty move and flicked the puck through the legs of goaltender Antti Niemi. Game over. Caps win 4 - 3 on Backie's 2nd goal of the night.
McQuire noted that after the game, newly aquired Cap, Eric Belanger said to him, "We didn't do that in Minnesota".
All the talk after the game was Ovechkin's hit on Brian Campbell. Campbell did not return to the game after the hit in the first period. Speculation was that Ovechkin would be automatically suspended because of his history. All was cleared up by Caps media Nate Ewell, who tweeted: "Ovechkin not subjecct to an automatic suspension because more than a half season has elapsed since his last boarding major"
Ovechkin addressed the media promptly after the win. "It was not a hard hit. I just pushed him. I saw the replay a couple of times. He just fell bad. That's it."
Ovechkin went on to praise his teammates who clawed their way back into the game. "It's nice to see when teams come back especially from 3 - 0. I know the guys are very happy and coach is happy. It's always nice when you come back and win in overtime in that kind of game. Mentally, it is very important for us."
As far as further discipline from the League, Ovechkin says, "it's hockey and I'm ready for everything."
With the Caps win this afternoon, they've broken the 100 point plateau, the first team to do so this season. They sit atop the League with 101 points, and are the fastest in Caps franchise history to hit 100 points.
Also of note, the Caps have come back from 3 goals down three times this season.
Oh yeah, at the second period intermission, NBCs Mike Milbury assessed the Ovechkin hit on Campbell as, "Ovechkin's 5 minute pushing major".
About Me
- queen of hockey
- I live in Calgary, Alberta CANADA...home of the NHL's Flames and the WHL's Hitmen. I love watching hockey. My favorite player is Alexander Ovechkin, followed closely by Nicklas Bäckström. Then there's my goalies Henrik Lundqvist, and Carey Price. I also like watching the dynamic duo of Toews and Kane. I like watching the Caps, Rangers, Habs, Hawks, and Canucks. But I'll watch anyone play anyone, at any time. I love the game that much. In my limited spare time, I am learning Swedish. I've actually been taking lessons since the NHL lockout in 2004. So, it stands to reason that I pay extra close attention to Swedish players/prospects. Pretty much the only time I'm not thinking hockey is when I'm sleeping, or when I'm at my boxing club.
