Ovechkin's Suspension Shows Inconsistency in NHL Punishments

By now we have all heard that Alex Ovechkin of thedirty hit.
Washington Capitals has been suspended 2 gamesAnother prime example of the inconsistency with the
for his hit on Brian Campbell. Was the hit really thatleague's discipline is the hit that Matt Cooke had on
bad? Ovechkin did push him late, but it was not a boneMarc Savard. On March 7th, Cooke hit Savard high at
crushing hit by any means. I do not think thathis head and Savard went down with a "serious
Ovechkin's hit warrants a 2 game suspension.concussion." Savard had to be carted off on a
Campbell hurt himself mainly due to the awkward fallstretcher and it looks like he may miss the rest of the
and the speed and momentum with which he wasseason. Cooke also has a recent history of dirty hits.
skating.He was suspended twice in the last 2 seasons (2
I admit I am biased as a Capitals fan and would begames each) for head hits on Artem Anisimov and
angry if it had happened to one of our own players.Scott Walker. What did Cooke get for this hit?
Having said that, I do remember the vicious hit ChrisNOTHING. No penalty. No fine. No suspension. No
Pronger put on Mike Green last year, which threwjustice.
Green into the boards and left him with a shoulderThere was also the hit that Flyers Mike Richards put
injury through the entire playoffs. I do not think Colinon David Booth of the Florida Panthers in October.
Campbell, head NHL disciplinarian really knows what heThis was a similar hit to Savard's in which Booth was
is doing anymore. There is no consistency in theout for 45 games with a Grade 3 concussion.
punishments and therefore referees and players doRichards also received no suspension. The reason that
not know what is and is not allowed."disciplinarian" Campbell provided for not suspending
We cannot say Ovechkin was suspended becauseCooke is that he needed to remain consistent with this
he has prior troubles with the NHL. Tampa Bay playerdecision to not suspend Richards. Apparently, this
Steve Downie has a history. He was suspended 20consistency was thrown out 7 days later with
games in 2007, his rookie season, for a check to theOvechkin.
head. He also had conduct problems in the AHLThese are not the only examples of NHL conduct
afterward. In 2009, he slashed an official and receivedproblems. There have been dirty hits in the NHL for
a game misconduct and a 20 game suspension. Wellyears. The NHL should have its rules defined by now.
this past Sunday, the same day as Ovechkin's hit,Clearly I disagree with Ovechkin's suspension. I do
Downie took a dirty hit at Penguins star Sidneydisapprove of the hit, but I think a 5 minute major would
Crosby. Downie had no contact with Crosby until afterhave sufficed. However, it is not simply because of my
Crosby passed the puck, and then proceeded toown opinion of the hit. I do not agree with the
knock Crosby into the boards and take out Crosby'ssuspension more due to the inconsistency of the NHL's
legs from behind him. Crosby passed the puck beforepunishments. How come goons with prior troubles who
center ice and Downie hit him near the blue line and fellmake dirty hits can get off with a slap on the wrist at
with him well into Tampa territory. Luckily Crosby wasbest? Does Campbell only suspend Ovechkin to make
okay. But what did Downie get? A trivial 2 minutea statement because he is a great, high-profile player?
penalty and a fine. No suspension. Everyone whoOr is it because Campbell may be out for the season?
knows me or has read this blog knows I hate Crosby.Punishments and rules should be consistent across the
So I would be one of the last to speak up for him. But Iboard no matter who the player is or how injured the
do not want him to get hurt and I can see this was avictim becomes.