Sweden's Niklas Bäckström Banned from the Gold Medal Game for Using Banned substance

English: #19 Nicklas Backstrom (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This has to be one of the most asinine things that I have ever seen. Nicklas Backstrom of Sweden was banned from the gold medal game against the Canadians for failing a drug test. Must have been performance enhancing right? Nope! According to Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy, the banned substance in question was Zyrtec-D. In my humble opinion, that has to be one of the most moronic things I have ever seen. It makes no sense what-so-ever. How is Zyrtec-D a PED? Why is this banned?

New York Times --- A Swedish Olympic Committee spokesman told The Associated Press that Backstrom, 26, had tested positive for a substance found in an allergy medication he has taken for seven years. Backstrom, a top-line center, had four assists over Sweden’s first five games.

The N.H.L. and the Capitals indicated in statements that Backstrom’s doping violation would not affect his status in the N.H.L. because the substance he tested positive for is not considered a banned substance by the league. Athletes competing in the Olympics are subject to tougher antidoping rules than those of the major professional leagues like the N.H.L.

The league’s deputy commissioner, Bill Daly, said, “We do not anticipate there being any consequences relative to Nicklas’s eligibility to participate in games for the Washington Capitals.”

Backstrom’s is the sixth known doping offense of the Sochi Games. The other athletes who failed drug tests were the cross-country skiers Johannes Duerr of Austria and Marina Lisogor of Ukraine; the men’s hockey player Vitalijs Pavlovs of Latvia; the biathlete Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle of Germany, who as a cross-country skier won two gold medals and three silver medals at previous Olympics; and the bobsledder William Frullani of Italy.

Did the IOC expect him to suffer and not have him take his allergy medicine? Being a person that suffers from seasonal allergies, I would be miserable if I couldn't take my over-counter medication for my allergies. This is a rule that has to be looked at and then nuked.

Capitals disagree with Backstrom's suspension

Backstrom and Ovechkin (Photo credit: clydeorama)

Of course they do. The moral of the story is don't cross check someone in the face at the end of the game like Backstrom did. It's really a pretty easy concept.

Katie Carrera, Washington Compost --- They’d much rather have their top center in the lineup for an important Game 4 at Verizon Center on Thursday as evidenced by a statement the team released to reporters Wednesday afternoon.

“We disagree with the NHL’s decision to suspend Nicklas Backstrom,” the statement said. “This has been a competitive and physical series, and we do not understand why a suspension was imposed in this case while other incidents in this series have not been reviewed. Our singular focus now is on Game 4, and we look forward to the energy that our great fans provide.”

But the Capitals know they can’t afford to dwell on the ruling – they can’t change it. They say their focus is on trying to even their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, which the Bruins lead two games to one.

Backstrom admits that it was stupid to cross-check on Bruins forward Rich Peverley.

Backstrom: “Well he...I did what I had to do. I think it was stupid on my part. I’ve got to deal with it now. I mean, one game — I don’t know, I don’t like it or whatever. I’ve got to deal with it. It is what it is.” [Capitals Insider]

Related articles

• Backstrom Suspended For Game Four (washington.cbslocal.com)

Backstrom suspended by the NHL.

This was the fourth suspension of the day. As expected, Nicklas Backstrom has been suspended by the NHL for his crosscheck on Richard Peverley which resulted in Backstom receiving a match penalty. The NHL wouldn't rescind the match penalty. Of course one of the dirtiest players to ever play in the NHL defended his player. I wouldn't expect anything less.

Capitals head coach Dale Hunter defended Backstrom's actions following the game, saying he "was trying to protect his face," because Peverley had his stick raised. Hunter feels the Bruins are targetting the head of Backstrom, who missed 40 games near the end of the regular season with a head injury.

"It is crossing the line. To grab his head all the time is not the right way to play," said Hunter. [TSN.CA]

Related articles

• VIDEO: Nicklas Backstrom Receives Match Penalty For Cross-Check On Rich Peverley (dc.sbnation.com)
• NHL Playoffs 2012: Nicklas Backstrom To Have Hearing With NHL; Dale Hunter Says Bruins Are Targeting Center's Head (dc.sbnation.com)
• Caps' Backstrom Called For Match Penalty, Likely Facing Suspension (philadelphia.cbslocal.com)

Marchand a diver?

Here is an entertaining and humorous video about Brad Marchand and his apparent diving that he did during game three against the Washington Capitals. The one play where Nikolas Backstrom hit him from behind, Marchand was off balance and basically already falling down, I will excuse that flop. That being said Marchand's diving is nothing compared to Ryan Kesler.

Related articles

• Boston Bruins Win Big Physical Game Against Washington Capitals, 4-3 (rantsports.com)
• Caps' coach: Bruins targeting Backstrom's head (espn.go.com)

Niklas Backstrom cross check on Peverley

The Washington Captials "could" be without one of their best players because of this unnecessary and dirty cross check by Niklas Backstrom on Boston Bruins forward Richard Peverley at the end of tonight's game. Backstrom received a match penalty at the end of the game tonight for this cross-check. It will be interesting to see what kind of supplemental discipline that Backstrom receives.  [Box Score]

Based on how erratic Brendan Shanahan has been in his ruling during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I would be surprised if Backstrom receives any punishment, mainly because of his star status. I predict that if there is any punishment it will be the maximum 2,500 dollar fine.

Bourque suspended five games

Former Wisconsin Badger Rene Bourque has been suspended by the NHL's Senior Vice President of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan for five games for a vicious elbow to the head of Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom this is after being suspended on December 19th by the NHL for his hit on Brent Seabrook. Apparently Bourque doesn't like playing against the Wild, because he has missed the Flames last two games against the Wild. Rene Bourque is a repeat offender and will have served a total of seven games of suspension.

NEW YORK -- Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque has been suspended for five games and will forfeit $203,252.05 in salary for delivering an elbow to the head of Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom during NHL Game #563 in Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 3, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Bourque, who was suspended last month, is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, he forfeits his salary based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (185). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 10:06 of the third period. A minor penalty for elbowing was assessed on the play.

Bourque will miss games Jan. 5 at Boston, Jan. 7 vs. Minnesota, Jan. 10 vs. New Jersey, Jan. 12 vs. Anaheim and Jan. 14 vs. Los Angeles. He will be eligible to return Jan. 17 at San Jose.

Related articles

• Flames' Rene Bourque Suspended Five Games For Hit On Capitals' Nicklas Backstrom (tracking.si.com)
• VIDEO: Rene Bourque Suspended Five Games For Elbowing Nicklas Backstrom (dc.sbnation.com)
• Flames' Bourque suspended 5 games (cbc.ca)
• Bourque, Carcillo suspended for 'reckless' hits (thestar.com)
• Flames' Bourque suspended five games for hit (espn.go.com)