For the second time this season, Alex Ovechkin was served an obscure equipment penalty. On January 12, Ovi took an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for throwing Tom Wilson a stick from the bench. His latest infraction was also stick related.
With 30 seconds left in the first period against the Islanders, Dmitry Orlov lost his twig. Ovechkin attempted to be the helpful captain we all know him to be, and “shot” the twig back to Orlov.
The only problem? You can’t do that.
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According to Isabelle Khurshudyan and Mike Vogel, Ovechkin was guilty of “illegal equipment.”
Ovechkin called for illegal equipment (?) with 29.5 seconds left. Caps have a 1-0 lead, but will start the second period on the PK.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) March 16, 2018
#Caps heading to the PK here with 29.5 seconds left in 1st, up 1-0. Ovechkin off for illegal equipment. That's as specific as I've got … #CapsIsles
— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) March 16, 2018
In the NHL rulebook, it’s a violation of Rule 10.3:
Broken Stick – Player – A broken stick is one which, in the opinion of the Referee, is unfit for normal play.
A player without a stick may participate in the game. A player whose stick is broken may participate in the game provided he drops the broken stick. A minor penalty shall be imposed for an infraction of this rule.
A player who has lost or broken his stick may receive a replacement stick by having one handed to him from his own players’ bench; by having one handed to him by a teammate on the ice; or, by picking up his own unbroken stick or that of a teammate’s from the ice. A player will be penalized if he throws, tosses, slides or shoots a stick to a teammate on the ice, or if he picks up and plays with an opponent’s stick. A player may not participate in the play using a goalkeeper’s stick. A minor penalty shall be imposed for an infraction of this rule.
