Ovechkin faces second suspension of the season.
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Alexander Ovechkin was ejected from Sunday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks with 7:44 remaining in the first period for a high-speed hit from behind that launched Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell into the boards behind his own goal, leaving him stunned on the ice for several minutes before heading to the locker room. Â (Video of the hit here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je9nEbQASNc) Ovechkin received a major penalty for boarding and game misconduct. He will be subject to possible suspension for the hit.
The hit comes just days after NHL general managers recommended a rule change to eliminate “lateral, back pressure, or blindside” hits to the head. Hits that a player can or should see coming will not be outlawed, but many of the side hits will be subject to either a 2 or 5 minute penalty, and all such hits will be subject to supplemental discipline.
Avalanche fans are more than familiar with the escalation that hits to the head can reach. In 2004, Avalanche center Steve Moore hit Canucks captain Markus Naslund hard in the head, though the hit was ruled clean both by the referee on the ice and the league office. The Canucks took exception, however, and the next time they played, Moore was lured into a fight and ultimately, while trying to avoid a fight with Todd Bertuzzi, ended up getting attacked from behind. Bertuzzi eventually faced legal action, and Steve Moore never played hockey again due to the injuries sustained in the incident (fractured vertebrae, concussion, lacerations).
The new rule changes were agreed to by a unanimous vote of general managers, and now goes to the competition committee this summer for final adoption.
