Ovechkin Hits Gonchar Knee on Knee

There's no question Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has no fear of physical contact. He'll hit anyone, anywhere, anytime. When it comes to star players in this sport, few have the attitude Ovechkin does when it comes to hitting. That attitude, usually seen as an endearing part of Ovechkin's game, may have landed him in trouble Friday night in Pittsburgh.

A first period hit on Penguin defenseman Sergei Gonchar -- and the resulting two-minute minor penalty -- has drawn the ire of the Penguins.

Take a peek at the video, which shows a hit that appears to be knee-to-knee.

The Penguins wanted a five-minute major called on Ovechkin, and they probably have a case. Sometimes, an apparent knee-on-knee hit doesn't look as bad when you look at it in slow motion. This isn't one of those cases.

You can blame Gonchar if you want for trying to bail out of getting hit, but Ovechkin pretty clearly sends his knee flying toward Gonchar's leg. It's a dangerous play that has no place in the game, whether it's a star player or a role player guilty.

It also doesn't matter whether Gonchar is seriously injured (as of this writing, he hasn't returned to the game).

Oddly enough, you could argue that Donald Brashear didn't deserve a six-game suspension for his hit in the Rangers series. I can't help but wonder what the public outcry would be had this hit been thrown by, say, Chris Clark.

Ovechkin may deserve a suspension, especially given how lightly he was penalized when the hit happened. The league will not take the case lightly, and it's worth noting that Ovechkin has no history of being a dirty player. This is an exception to the rule. While I think a one-game ban would be a defensible punishment, I'd be shocked if we saw that happen.

Alex Ovechkin Photos

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Star Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals competes in the 'Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Breakaway Challenge' during the Honda NHL Superskills competition as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

Dave Sandford, Getty Images

WASHINGTON - MARCH 27: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his first period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 27, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

WASHINGTON - MARCH 27: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals checks Matt Smaby #32 of the Tampa Bay Lightning into the boards during a NHL hockey game on March 27, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mitchell Layton, NHLI / Getty Images

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 21:Alexander Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates hard for position during a NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 21, 2009 at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

Gregg Forwerck, NHLI / Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - MARCH 12: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates in towards the crease against Danny Briere #48 and Martin Biron #43 of the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Len Redkoles, NHLI / Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - MARCH 12: A young male fan holds up a sign for Alex Ovechkin during the pregame warm ups at a NHL game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals on March 12, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Len Redkoles, NHLI / Getty Images

BOSTON - FEBRUARY 28: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals during warm-up against the Boston Bruins at the TD Banknorth Garden on February 28, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Steve Babineau, NHLI / Getty Images

SUNRISE, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals sits on the bench during a break in the action against the Florida Panthers at the Bank Atlantic Center on February 15, 2009 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Eliot J. Schechter, NHLI / Getty Images

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 03: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 3, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey. The Capitals defeated the Devils 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates during the Honda NHL Superskills competition as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Mike Stobe, Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

5-08-2009 @ 8:55PM

Justin Gibson said...

The "great" 8 has shown his true colours for all the world to see. The league needs to make an example out of him. As for Brashear, I guess no one remembers the time he pretended he was hurt really bad by getting hit in the head with a stick.

5-08-2009 @ 9:10PM

Chris Burke said...

That's a totally unacceptable play -- just like you said, it doesn't matter whether Gonchar wound up injured or not, but it certainly makes the Pens case for a suspension stronger that he still hasn't come back.

If Clark had done that, it would almost certainly bring a suspension. Letting Ovechkin get off the hook just because it's Ovechkin would be classic NHL, though.

5-08-2009 @ 9:57PM

The Dude said...

Any fan of the game knows that the Russians are taught to go for the injury. Ovechkin should be suspended. The game is not played to see how much you can injure the other team! Ovechkin also jumps when he hits and should get more time in th ebox than he does.

5-08-2009 @ 10:10PM

red79225 said...

lol yea i guess the Russians are taught to go for the injury but don't worry if he's hurt he'll heal fast..he's in America now..lol Home of the Steroid Athletes..lol..

5-08-2009 @ 10:51PM

Rob said...

Dirty? I saw it too, it did not look dirty to me. I watched it over and over again, it looked to me like he was looking at the puck right before it happened. The way the series has gone (and I'm no Cap' fan) if it was Crosby that committed that infraction, he wouldn't have even drawn a 2 minute minor!

5-08-2009 @ 11:11PM

Joe said...

@ Rob,
Dude, don't know what you were watching but that was definately a knee to knee hit. did you really watch it or did you just listen to your crybaby coach in his press conference. Don't know why you had to bring Crosby into this, OH wait you craps fans always find a reason to insult him. Pretty sure tho if it WAS Crosby who hit one of your crappy players like that, YOU would be calling for a 5 game suspension, I was wondering what you guys would find to whine about after this game tho, cause the penalties were pretty even and pretty sure a few more (at least 3) should have been called on the Craps but weren't, so I guess since you can't find anything to complain about, you will just defend your dirty playing "GOD".

5-09-2009 @ 5:21PM

cod40 said...

I agree Rob. I watched it over and over too. There wasnt any intent there. Anybody that has played the game knows that sometimes you have micro-seconds to react. Collisions happen. Its a fast game and if you are watching the puck sometimes you get hit either on purpose or incidental. To me a penalty wasnt even warranted. It would be different if he intentionally went after him. For the record, I am not a Caps fan just an old hockey player who loves the sport.

5-08-2009 @ 10:57PM

gem1920 said...

I think all kneeing penalties should be 5-minute majors. It is avoidable and always despicable when it happens. I like Ovechkin and his style, but there is no excuse for kneeing. Brian Marchment was the master of the knee, and thus one of the most despised players of his era. Ovechkin needs to stay physical and aggressive, but avoid the Marchment-esque actions.

5-08-2009 @ 11:21PM

Jason K said...

I wouldn't go so far as to say he's not known as a dirty player. Southeastern Conference fans (yes, we exist) who have watched him can tell you he routinely leaves his feet on checks, just like he did on this play. Then he runs and hides on the bench.

5-09-2009 @ 5:32PM

Big deal, he leaves his feet. I call that delivering a check with authority. If you are going to half ass check someone, why bother? Southeastern conference fan, wow, I am one, born and raised on hockey in Minnesota. Do you know anything about hockey or are you a wannabe? Someone checks you and somewhere in the game you pay them back. Maybe baseball is your sport. You can bunt there.

5-08-2009 @ 11:27PM

rec94 said...

That looked like old Ulfie Samulson out there. Pittsburg needs a "Brashear" to croak him the next time he pulls one of his bush league celebrations.

5-08-2009 @ 11:51PM

jtrynoble said...

What goes around comes around.

5-09-2009 @ 1:18AM

pladd said...

From his pathetic TV interviews to childish celebrations to repeated attempts to injure, Ovechkin is an embarrassment to hockey.

5-09-2009 @ 1:42AM

granados13 said...

When the kings play the pinguins in the regular season, Malkin threw an elbow agains one of simmons and all he got, was a fine. Crosby is not a clean player, during the season he did some dirty stuff, but did he get suspended, no.
As far as celebrating goes, celebrate all you want, if the fans can celebrate why not players.

5-09-2009 @ 2:43AM

Crosby and Malkin didn't take anyone out for the rest of the season. Big difference, idiot.

5-09-2009 @ 8:33AM

bigguy1176 said...

I love that kind of stuff i hate pittsburg f-them

5-14-2009 @ 1:49AM

footballumpire02 said...

learn how to spell pittsburgh

5-09-2009 @ 9:03AM

bob said...

OVECHKIN PLAYS HARD AND HAS A TON OF TALENT.BUT KNEE ON KNEE HIT JUST SHOWS YOU THAT HE WAS FLUSTRATED AND HE CANT CONTROL HIS EMOIONS. IM A BIG PEN FAN BUT IF CROSBY WOULD OF DONE THE SAME THING I SAY 1 GAME SUSPENSION AND FINE.I JUST HOPE THIS DOESNT INTERFEAR WITH CONGHARS CAREER. KNEE INJURYS LAST FOREVER.

5-09-2009 @ 9:30AM

Super Steeler said...

Shame...Shame....DIRTY play..!!!

5-09-2009 @ 9:32AM

spike574 said...

I saw the video,, I'm a caps fan also,, but that was really an intent to injur,, Ovi should be suspended for the rest of the series for that infraction,, there is no roon for that kind of crap in hockey,, that is what fighting is for. If you have a problem with someone on the ice, drop the gloves and go at it! this is allowed. But to take the coward way out is just wrong! If the Capitals lose Ovi they lose the cup it's as simple as that, so don't look for a long suspension,, it won't happen,, Ovi is the best player in the league so far,, he really doesn'
t have to resort to such a thing. What a fool!!!