…was very similar to the hit that AO gave Daniel Briere three years ago that he got a game misconduct for. The reason Colin Campbell gave for not suspending him is that Ovechkin, in his opinion, was exceptionally contrite and did not have a reputation as a headhunter.

He has that reputation now.

Five games.

Anyone who thinks Ovie WILL be suspended doesn’t follow the NHL very closely.

Maybe, just maybe, he will get a Pronger-esque one game suspension depending on the public outcry.

But it wasn’t worth 5 and the game.

These guys are following last year’s schedule with a hot october followed by a cold november and a missed playoff berth in the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YersIyzsOpc

Wow, You would think a hit like that would fire the rest of the team up. Let’s get a couple of goals and then make these guys pay. Nope, shoot from the perimeter, miss the net, give the puck away. Play the same loser hockey we watched last year. Time to sit some of these prima donnas. Bring up some more kids! I think my mite hockey coach taught me first. “You don’t ever want two d behind the net”. Isn’t that why Washington scored their second goal?

I’m ok with that hit. It was cheap, and uncalled for, but it wasn’t the worst I’ve ever seen. I really doubt AO gets suspended for it as well.

Too bad the fathers of the players couldn’t enjoy a win with their boys.

Sky isn’t falling yet folks…

I thought the hit came more from the side and not from the back. It was a little bit late but was basically a clean hit. This is the type of hit that Kaleta throws all the time and this time he was on the receiving end.

Kudos for the objectivity. It would be easy to go by the sweaters and get carried away. Comcast in Washington showed a much better angle where it’s clear that contact was on the shoulder. It was on the side, but it was definitely all shoulder. Kaleta also definitely saw AO coming and tried to shield himself by turning his back and facing the boards. I’m not saying being vulnerable is carte blanche, but the responsibility to not be reckless applies to both parties. AO got 5 minutes because of the result, that’s how the NHL roles now. Hits like that happen pretty regularly and when guys get up cleanly there’s not much outrage.

I agree there should be some benchings to guys like pominville, vanek or roy i don’t care how talented they are, it’ll wake them up. Last year, Steve Stamkos sat out a few games for conditioning purposes and look at him now that kid’s a machine. Healthy scratches are a fine source of motivation.

We’re 4 for 10 in October… we just kissed the division lead (and probably the division title) goodbye. Our offense is a joke and our only advantage is the 2-3 games we have at hand. But guess what, there’s only 1 point between us and the 11th place team….

If they continue in this direction, I am predicting an 9th place Buffalo Sabres team by New Years Day. I really hope that’s not the case, although I am curious what the blind faithers will say at that point.

All I know is, I’ve really wanted one of those badass 3rd jerseys for awhile now… but giving $300 of my hard earned money to this orginization, just feels so unethical. I’ve also really wanted to go to my usual 4 or 5 games this year, but if they’re not commited to providing a winning product to their customers… I’m not going to my first game of the season anytime soon.

if i were Ruff, I’d bring up Gerbe for his work ethic, Gragnani for his offensive mind and Weber for his physicality. It won’t hurt to try and these defensemen with the exception of Myers are hard to watch lately.