Capitals coach fine with Zolnierczyk hit on Mathieu Perreault

In the waning moments of last night’s game, Flyers forward Harry Zolnierczy was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for a hit that he put on Capitals forward Mathieu Perreault. Apparently, Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates is fine with the hit and didn’t think it was a dirty hit. After reviewing the hit again, I guess, I am fine, with the hit too then.

monumentalnetwork.com --- In the game’s final minute, Perreault was coming through the neutral zone when Philadelphia winger Harry Zolnierczyk checked the Washington center hard. Zolnierczyk was assessed a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct, but Oates didn’t see anything wrong with the hit.

“I don’t think it’s dirty at all,” says Oates. “It’s the product of our whole game, quite honestly. There’s 30 seconds left, the game’s over and Matty [Perreault] thought that he could stickhandle through the team. That’s not what we do, all of us tonight. Guys are sitting there waiting for you and you get hit.