So the Carolina Hurricanes were not at all happy with Alex Ovechkin’s knee-on-knee hit against defenseman Tim Gleason during Monday’s 3-2 win. Ovechkin got the worst of the contact, of course. He is listed as day-to-day with a knee injury, is still awaiting word on the exact severity of his injury – though it’s no longer believed to be season-threatening – and could face a fine and suspension from the NHL for his second ejection in three games. There was also a slew-footing incident against Atlanta on Oct. 22 that earned Ovechkin a $2,500 fine.
Hurricanes defenseman Aaron Ward had harsh words in between periods during a television interview with Fox Sports Carolinas.
“That was irresponsible. There’s no place for that in this game. Hopefully that will be looked at with an even hand and the appropriate action is taken. My opinion is irrelevant in it,” Ward said.
That was one interpretation. Ward’s coach, Paul Maurice, was more measured in his postgame comments. The Caps didn’t agree with Ward, obviously.
F Matt Bradley
“Anytime there’s knee-on-knee contact it’s not good. It’s one of those things you hope doesn’t happen, but it does. Everyone will have to move on… It’s one of those things where no one is going out there to try and knee someone or try to injure someone for the most part. It’s heat of the moment. A guy moves and you don’t want to let him get by you or vice versa. Things like that happen. You wish they didn’t, but they happen. And like I said it’s something we all have to move on from…[Ovechkin] is obviously very quick and he’s a big guy. Guys don’t want to get hit by him. So they’ll be trying to get out of his way and sometimes that leads to accidental contact with knees or whatever it is.
D Mike Green
“[Ovechkin] just plays aggressive. Maybe when most guys would swing away [from the play] Alex likes to finish his checks. He’s a big guy. That’s not his job. But it’s part of the game. That’s when he’s at his best when he finishes his checks. That’s when he creates turnovers and scores goals….It’s just a matter two guys being aggressive and the other guy trying to get out of the way.”
But F Brooks Laich had the strongest words for Ward – and any players/fans/media around the league who want to call Ovechkin a dirty player. I’ll have another post listing his major transgressions – many within the last 11 months. But Laich stood up for his teammate – and mentioned a questionable hit by Hurricanes F Erik Cole that went uncalled late in Monday’s game.
“What about Cole’s hit on me [from behind]?… [Cole is] a guy that’s broken a neck. So if they want to make comments about our players we’ll make comments about [them]. Ovie comes in, leans in with a shoulder, tries to hit him and their guy [Gleason] tries to avoid him and it’s a collision that can’t be avoided.”
Laich continued…
On Ovechkin returning to the ice today…
“It doesn’t surprise me. Nothing that kid does surprises me. He’s a tough kid. He’s a tough kid and he wants to play every single game. And we’re hopeful that he’s going to be okay…Yeah, I talked to him last night so I knew that it wasn’t anything real serious. So we went to bed with a clear mind last night knowing he wasn’t going to be gone for six months or something. And then this morning he says he wants to play. So we’ll see when he gets back.
On Ovechkin changing his style of play…
“No. No. I don’t think he can. I think it’s the competitive spirit in him that makes him go so hard and that’s why he’s so respected and so hard to play against. Every single shift that kid plays hard. He doesn’t take any nights off. He lays on the gas pedal and that’s why he’s the best in the world. Injuries are going to happen regardless but I think you’re more bound to get injured if you try and sit back and play safe. Because that’s when mistakes happen. Ovi’s a tough kid, he’s in good shape and I hope he’ll be back in right away.”
On Ovechkin and a burgeoning image as a reckless player among opposing fans, coaches and players…
“He doesn’t care. He cares about winning hockey games. He doesn’t care what some fan says or what some media say. If he did – I don’t even know if he reads English. He speaks it okay, but I don’t know if he reads it. But he doesn’t care about public opinion. He just wants to win hockey games.”
