Photo credit: Alex Brandon

You can understand their frustration. About to lose their sixth game in a row, the Washington Capitals had good reason to be grumpy. Despite improving play at even strength, the team was still beset by penalties and unable to score. Down 2-0 with ten minutes remaining, Mikhail Grabovski was effectively ejected from the game with a two-minute roughing penalty and a ten-minute game misconduct.

Apparently that’s the punishment you get when you nearly gouge out the eyes of your opponent.

Grabo had collided with Ottawa’s Zack Smith a moment earlier. Smith and Jared Cowen took umbrage at the hit, which was totally clean, and a scrum followed. Whatever Smith said or did apparently got to Grabovski, who was being restrained by a lineman. Grabo clawed at Smith’s face– not all that far from his eyes– and that was it for his night.

Video via @DCSportsBog

Grabo’s always had a bit of a temper. It’s part of what makes him such a compelling hockey player. He didn’t mince words when he called ex-coach/current-idiot Randy Carlyle “a [expletive] idiot.” I’m still pretty sure he bit Max Pacioretty last year. But here’s his best meltdown ever, shoving a ref and pumping up the fans on his way to suspension:

Don’t ever let it be said that the Caps players don’t care. Or at least don’t let it be said when Mikhail Grabovski is one of those Caps players. Which hopefully he will be. For like 3-4 years.