ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski reported on a profane moment from one of the league’s most gentlemanly players after the horn ended.
According to Wyshynski, Backstrom was overheard yelling “f*ck this league” in frustration after the Caps’ 3-1 loss to the Penguins. The Caps and Penguins second-round series is now tied 2-2.
Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom came off the ice, threw his stick in the dressing room hallway and screamed “F— this league.”
I asked Backstrom why he was so upset coming off the ice.
“That we didn’t win. That’s what I’m upset about.”
The comment comes a day after first-line forward Tom Wilson was suspended three games for his check to the head of Zach Aston-Reese. Alex Ovechkin had zero shots on goal in Game Four as the first line was dominated by the Penguins. It’s difficult not to connect the dots here.
NBC4’s Sherree Burruss also witnessed Backstrom’s blowup going to the locker room.
Yikes! Coming off the ice Backstrom yelled an expletive and threw his stick like a spear against the wall before going in to the dressing room.
— Sherree Burruss (@SherreeBurruss) May 4, 2018
The Capitals, according to The Washington Post’s Isabelle Khurshudyan, are disputing Wysh’s report.
I wasn't there. Wysh is an honest reporter. But the Capitals are disputing Backstrom said this. https://t.co/G4QNuZuSC1
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 4, 2018
Wyshynski added on Twitter that four other people corroborated his account.
Two reporters and two camera people heard "Fuck this league." We were standing right there. It's not just me.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 4, 2018
He added that the Capitals didn’t “clarify which player said this instead” and “ran to the Post to get a refutation out.”
This was expected. I offered the Capitals the chance to clarify which player said this instead, and they can't. They confirm Backstrom threw stick, cursed. Dispute what he said. Multiple people heard it, with clarity. https://t.co/JdYK3KtLrA
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 4, 2018
I reported something, and the Capitals ran to the Post to get a refutation out, so I gotta defend myself. Not sure why that's an issue.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 4, 2018
