Ovechkin's hit on Gonchar

[uk_redwing 495]

I agree with PJ Stock's words of wisdom on the matter.

[Doc Holiday 0]

quote name='Shoreline' date='May 8, 2009 - 11:29PM' post='1639053']

Should've been a 5, and Ovy is lucky he didn't get it. It's a dangerous play to make, intent or not.

It should have been a 5 at least and a suspension for intent to injure in my opinion. If Ovechkin was playing with respect for other players in mind then a better effort would have been made to know what part of his body was being used for the hit. If a player is responsible for what happens with his stick then or has to be aware of a hit being delivered to an unsuspecting player then also the player should be present to the fact that skating into a hit with the stance and posture Ovechkin went in with could result in a questionable collision, he lead with his knee out there is no question there.

Ovechkin had a wide stance. That is for balance.

Ovechkin's right skate (the skate that made contact with Gonchar) did not turn. It was nowhere near an attempt to knee on knee and two minutes is the maximum that play should have had because of the fact they did make knee on knee contact.

You honestly think Ovechkin was trying to injure his fellow countryman here?

[Guest Four]

Ovechkin had a wide stance. That is for balance.

Ovechkin's right skate (the skate that made contact with Gonchar) did not turn. It was nowhere near an attempt to knee on knee and two minutes is the maximum that play should have had because of the fact they did make knee on knee contact.

You honestly think Ovechkin was trying to injure his fellow countryman here?

If you look, his stance isn't even wide. The only "wide" part is his left leg that he puts out a little to turn right, which isn't even the leg that hit Gonchar!

[jollymania 162]

that was a knee on knee dont kid yourselves anyone

[jollymania 162]

definitly an accident. his knee didnt move and you can clearly see his uperbody going for the hit, meanwhile Gonchar moved out of the way but his leg didnt make it out on time.

and oveckin elbowing huard and potentially ending his career was an accident? it may not be intentional but it is reckless and in order for ovechkin to not seriously injure more players with boderline plays i think he needs to be disciplined

[uk_redwing 495]

People actually think this should be a suspension? Wow...What about Holmstrom elbowing injured Wisniewski then? Surely that should be a suspension too in that case.

[Guest Four]

and oveckin elbowing huard and potentially ending his career was an accident? it may not be intentional but it is reckless and in order for ovechkin to not seriously injure more players with boderline plays i think he needs to be disciplined

Okay, therefore Kronwall should be disciplined for breaking a Duck's nose and Holmstrom should be disciplined for elbowing an already-hurt player in the face, and Downie should be disciplined for elbowing a goalie in the face (on purpose, too) and while we're at it, Franzen should be disciplined for running Hiller after his goal. All of these Red Wings could have easily injured (except for Downie) the opposing team for accidents, and it happened with Kronwall. If you say that Ovechkin deserves games so he doesn't play reckless, then you may as well discipline the whole league who are all about hitting and playing rough and tough. At any point in a hockey game, everyone on the ice is at risk of getting hurt due to an accident on the other team. It was an accident where Ovechkin didn't even have his knee out and Gonchar did. It was not his fault as he leaned in for the hit before Gonchar moved. Not to mentioned as he turned, his head was facing the puck along the boards, completely unaware of Gonchar going to poke the puck and turn away. He puts his head up at the last moment with Gonchar skating towards him, what do you think he's going to do? Obviously he would brace for the hit and and trying and put his shoulder in to Gonchar as he hits him. Unfortunately he didn't hit Ovechkin and tried to get around him. Not everything people on other teams do is on purpose.

Edited May 9, 2009 by Four

[Electrophile 3,554]

People actually think this should be a suspension? Wow...What about Holmstrom elbowing injured Wisniewski then? Surely that should be a suspension too in that case.

No, I don't think he should be suspended. I did say it wasn't a smart play for someone of his talent level to make, but I don't think anything beyond the penalty he got in the game is needed.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Dirty play. I thought it was going to be a major. You actually have to try to go knee-to-knee with someone, you're natural reaction, as Gonchar did, was try and get your knees out of the way, OV did not, therefore you can tell it was intentional. Plus you can tell he was prepared for it by him being 100% fine and not even going down. BTW, he absolutely DID widen his stance right before contact, another sign he "did it on purpose". Maybe not with malice, but intentional none-the-less.

[Guest Four]

Dirty play. I thought it was going to be a major. You actually have to try to go knee-to-knee with someone, you're natural reaction, as Gonchar did, was try and get your knees out of the way, OV did not, therefore you can tell it was intentional. Plus you can tell he was prepared for it by him being 100% fine and not even going down. BTW, he absolutely DID widen his stance right before contact, another sign he "did it on purpose". Maybe not with malice, but intentional none-the-less.

..I'm sorry, are we watching the same video? The video were we changes his stance to TURN and brace for a hit/give a hit?

[Dano33 41]

I don't get how two people can see this play in complete opposite ways, it blows my mind. One argument is Ovechkin widened and did it intentionally, and the other is Gonchar widened. I'm guessing it depends on whether you like the guy or not. People see what they want to see. The play was unfortunate, Ovechkin did lead with his knee, but he definitely did not stick it out and try to injure the guy.

[Guest Four]

I don't get how two people can see this play in complete opposite ways, it blows my mind. One argument is Ovechkin widened and did it intentionally, and the other is Gonchar widened. I'm guessing it depends on whether you like the guy or not. People see what they want to see. The play was unfortunate, Ovechkin did lead with his knee, but he definitely did not stick it out and try to injure the guy.

That's pretty much how I saw it. I believe Gonchar just left his knee out as he turned and it happened, it was really no ones fault, just a mix-up. Ovechkin led with his knee and Gonchar turned.

[Yzerfan1999 81]

I don't get how two people can see this play in complete opposite ways, it blows my mind. One argument is Ovechkin widened and did it intentionally, and the other is Gonchar widened. I'm guessing it depends on whether you like the guy or not. People see what they want to see. The play was unfortunate, Ovechkin did lead with his knee, but he definitely did not stick it out and try to injure the guy.

QFT

[grwingfan 21]

One more reason for Cindy Crosby and the crybaby Pens to whine.

[Matt 1,049]

I don't see anything wrong with the hit. Ovechkin cruised in, didn't stick his leg out, etc. Gonchar spun around and put himself in a vulnerable position by wildy trying to play the puck and not realizing Ovechkin was coming until the last moment. Gonchar is th one that stuck his leg out and left it where he *was*, which was why it was what Ovechkin hit.

Gonchar probably would've been better off just taking the hit full-on instead of trying to sidestep out of the way.

[RedWings 79]

Strong loss for the Pens

When they lost Gonchar during the regular season, Pens defense sucked big time

+ he is one major strengh on the PP

That could give edge to the Caps in the end of the series

[KillerB14 2]

Ovechkin never changed his path, he already had a wide stance. Gonchar was the one who changed his path, tried to jump out of the way. Ovechkin was about to destroy him with a legal check, had him lined up perfectly into the shoulder.

Sportscenter froze it right before the hit when Gonchar was slightly leaning forward to tap the puck. I thought to myself, "lights out." But as soon as Gonchar touched the puck he tried to jump out of the way and got knee on knee. Kinda funny to think about the knee on knee call and I think the deciding factor is how a player moves his knees to make contact (bob mckenzie has a great article on it on tsn.ca). The humor comes from the fact that between the two players Gonchar was the one that changed his path, so really he did more against the rules then Ovechkin.

All you people can shut it. Starting your comments with, "I hate Ovechkin, so he did it." Whose gonna take you seriously? Start with some facts about how Ovechkin moved into Gonchar once Gonchar tried to move out of the way. I'll give you a tip and don't say anything about watching the video, cause that will just discredit you. But who am I to let facts get in the way of a good arguement.

[Guest Four]

Ovechkin never changed his path, he already had a wide stance. Gonchar was the one who changed his path, tried to jump out of the way. Ovechkin was about to destroy him with a legal check, had him lined up perfectly into the shoulder.

Sportscenter froze it right before the hit when Gonchar was slightly leaning forward to tap the puck. I thought to myself, "lights out." But as soon as Gonchar touched the puck he tried to jump out of the way and got knee on knee. Kinda funny to think about the knee on knee call and I think the deciding factor is how a player moves his knees to make contact (bob mckenzie has a great article on it on tsn.ca). The humor comes from the fact that between the two players Gonchar was the one that changed his path, so really he did more against the rules then Ovechkin.

All you people can shut it. Starting your comments with, "I hate Ovechkin, so he did it." Whose gonna take you seriously? Start with some facts about how Ovechkin moved into Gonchar once Gonchar tried to move out of the way. I'll give you a tip and don't say anything about watching the video, cause that will just discredit you. But who am I to let facts get in the way of a good arguement.

Agreed.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Gonchar most likely done for the season

Sources tell TSN Pittsburgh defenceman Sergei Gonchar suffered an apparent knee injury and will miss the next several weeks, perhaps the remainder of the season.

Gonchar was injured following a knee-on-knee collision with Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who received a minor penalty on the play.

During a Washington power play in the first period of Game 4, Gonchar skated out from behind the Pittsburgh net and Ovechkin appeared to stick out his right knee a moment before the two collided. The Penguins defenceman was unable to put any weight on his right leg and was helped off the ice.

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Interesting response in that same TSN article from a representative of Gonchar:

The National Hockey League has ruled out the notion of supplemental discipline which has prompted reaction from Gonchar's representative, JP Barry.

''We now have Exhibit A of the extreme double-standard that exists in the NHL's approach to discipline. Alex clearly cuts back with his knee after missing his check with devastating results. But of course, because it's Alex, its all Sergei's fault,'' Barry told TSN.

''It was a extremely negligent hit and if anyone else in this league does the same we all know they will face serious discipline,'' Barry continued. ''Part of being 'great' means playing with respect. He is wreckless and this isn't the first or last time he will get a free pass from the NHL, and the best part is he knows it.''

[Jake Ryan 1]

I always give a player ONE pass on something like this. This is the WORST play in all of hockey, in my opinion. Jiri Fischer comes to mind with this kind of crap, and I hate it. Hits to the head and hits to the knee = no no.

[T.Low 1,011]

Ovie did not do this on purpose. Ovie went to hit Gonchar with his shoulder but Gonchar moved to his left and that is how the knee on knee contact occurred. Watch the video closely. Ovie never moves his skates or his legs, he is on the same path from before the hit to after the hit. Also, Ovie is clearly leading with his shoulder trying to hit Gonchar with his shoulder, but Gonchar moves to his left at the last second. This does not excuse the fact that it was kneeing and should have been a 5 minute major, but it was not done with intent and was nothing but accidental.

Correct.

If Ovie's feet were closer together he would have gotten helicoptered from the impact. He needs a wide base in that instance, and the knee injury was most unfortunate. I'm suprised it doesn't happen more often. PJ Stock (sp?) on HNIC made the case opposite the rest of the HNIC panels' interpretation and I happen to agree with him.

Edited May 9, 2009 by T.Low

[Doc Holiday 0]

Interesting response in that same TSN article from a representative of Gonchar:

The National Hockey League has ruled out the notion of supplemental discipline which has prompted reaction from Gonchar's representative, JP Barry.

''We now have Exhibit A of the extreme double-standard that exists in the NHL's approach to discipline. Alex clearly cuts back with his knee after missing his check with devastating results. But of course, because it's Alex, its all Sergei's fault,'' Barry told TSN.

''It was a extremely negligent hit and if anyone else in this league does the same we all know they will face serious discipline,'' Barry continued. ''Part of being 'great' means playing with respect. He is wreckless and this isn't the first or last time he will get a free pass from the NHL, and the best part is he knows it.''

Barry, your agenda is showing.

[TSM 0]

All you people can shut it. Starting your comments with, "I hate Ovechkin, so he did it." Whose gonna take you seriously? Start with some facts about how Ovechkin moved into Gonchar once Gonchar tried to move out of the way. I'll give you a tip and don't say anything about watching the video, cause that will just discredit you. But who am I to let facts get in the way of a good arguement.

First off, make me. Secondly, there are unspoken rules in the game of hockey when it comes to mutual respect between players. Alexandria is FRIENDS with Gonchar, yet he intentionally injures him? The fact that Gonchar is out for the rest of the playoffs tells me that if there was no intent, then the injury wouldn't be this severe. Like the rules about headhunting, the same should apply to the wheelhouse of EVERY Hockey player. Whether you're Alexandria or not, you're done for a good period of time after threatening a man's career. Tell me that Gonchar will be the same skater after this incident and that will paint you as the ignoramus that you are. We talk about being a classy organization as players and fans, yet we give a "blind" pass to a knuckle dragger like Alexandria? BS

[mjlegend 155]

Barry, your agenda is showing.

He's so pissed off, you'd think this happened to his boy Sundin or something. I've never seen an agent jump into the fray when a player's injured.