Neither team satisfied with Ovechkin suspension
Predictably, Hawks says it’s too little and Capitals maintain 2 games too much
By Chris Kuc, Tribune reporter
10:40 p.m. CDT, March 16, 2010

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Adam Burish said he considered jumping over the boards to get at Alex Ovechkin after the Capitals star injured Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell with an illegal hit during Sunday's game but didn't because his coach "would have wringed my neck."

On the day the team announced Campbell will be sidelined seven to eight weeks with a broken clavicle and rib — but likely would avoid surgery — the Hawks reacted to the news the league had suspended Ovechkin for two games and, not surprisingly, felt the punishment was too lenient.

"I don't care if you're dirty or not, or if you have a history or not, if you hit somebody in the head or you injure somebody you need to get suspended for it," Burish said after Tuesday's practice. "I was glad to see that the league finally did that. But I think it's because Ovechkin has had so many of them. It's disappointing because this is somebody's job, this is somebody's career, this is someone's livelihood."

Ovechkin will sit out the Capitals next two games and is forced to forfeit $232,000 of salary.

"It was a tough hit, a dangerous hit," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. " (Ovechkin) has an amazing pace to his game. He's a strong guy and (Campbell) was vulnerable. It was a dangerous hit and that's where it's at. We're not happy."

On the flip side, the Capitals were unhappy with the suspension and their coach, Bruce Boudreau told the team's Web site that Campbell was partly to blame because he "was trying to spin away and the spin didn't work and he got caught in the ice and he fell into the boards."

"That's a stupid comment," Burish said. "(Ovechkin) didn't smoke him from behind. But when a guy is turning and he's not in the play anymore, as a hockey player you know that you're a little bit vulnerable in that position. And Ovechkin knows it."

There is more to the article, but added nothing to our discussion.

Burish should have either jumped over the boards and gone after Ovechkin, or kept his mouth shut. As short of toughness as this team is, what are the Hawks going to do, not play him or send him to the minors. I think not. Coach Q would have gotten over it.

Secondly, Caps coach Boudreau is an ass for trying to blame Campbell for a hit that his player made. His player also made it late and from behind. That is what I alluded to when I said people are blaming Campbell for getting hit.

To me, his coach is not only defending him, but minimizing the fact that his player is dangerous on the ice.

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Leave it all on the ice. Don't hold anything back.