Alex Ovechkin has been suspended several times in his career for illegal bodychecks from behind. Saturday night in Boston, Ovechkin was given a major penalty for boarding, after hitting defenseman Kevan Miller in the numbers.
Miller was pinching inside the Caps defensive zone when the puck hopped over his stick. As he turned back to play the biscuit, Ovechkin crunched him into the boards. A scrum ensued while Miller remained on the ice.
Miller left the game and, according to the Bruins media, was taken to the hospital with shoulder and neck injuries.
Kevan Miller did, in fact, go to the hospital after the hit from Ovechkin.
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) March 6, 2016
Just got word from an NHL official D Kevan Miller is already at a local area hospital. Same surgically repaired shoulder from a year ago.
— Courtney Fallon (@CourtneyFallon_) March 6, 2016
Early word on Kevan Miller isn't good. Sounds like his shoulder & neck are pretty banged up after the Ovechkin hit from behind
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) March 6, 2016
Ovechkin was not ejected from the game and during his post-game press conference, Bruins head coach Claude Julien said he believed he should have, citing a double standard.
Claude Julien on Ovie hit on Miller: "If it's anybody else (but Ovechkin) is it a game (misconduct)?"
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) March 6, 2016
The NHL rule book gives referees the power to give a player a game misconduct if the hit results in a head or neck injury, which did occur.
Per Rule 41.5, a game misconduct for boarding comes "for a foul resulting in an injury to the face or head of an opponent."
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) March 6, 2016
The problem here is that Miller arguably put himself into a dangerous situation after pulling up and turning for the puck. Ovechkin was gliding into the hit and it appeared to be an accident.
Ovechkin said as such after the game to Isabelle Khurshudyan.
Ovechkin said he doesn't think there'll be any supplemental discipline for his hit on Miller. Said it was a hockey play.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 6, 2016
Ovechkin on the boarding penalty: "Even the referee said I get five minutes because I was heavier than him."
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 6, 2016
The Department of Player Safety will review the hit – though they review every questionable play so make of that what you will.
The @NHLPlayerSafety is reviewing the Alex Ovechkin boarding hit on Kevan Miller that sent him to the hospital
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) March 6, 2016
