The Letang Hit from a Pengiuns Fan's Perspective

I don't even know why he got interference. Provably just because it looked like a serious injury. https://t.co/MrLHeCIvsu

— Tough Call (@ToughCallBlog) May 3, 2016

This is a different way of looking at the Penguins defenseman Kris Letang hit on Capitals forward Marcus Johansson. Talk about living in denial. I am not shocked, though. It's tough to look through an objective lens when a player on your favorite team could face a suspension.

Was it a head shot? Nope. He targeted the chest. If anything, Johansson’s head hit Letang’s name bar because it was behind Letang’s shoulder. Was it an elbow? Not a chance. A charge? Less than two strides. Late? .64 seconds? I think the .04 is covered by the two minute penalty by the on ice official. But it was a violent, open ice hit! A guy was hurt! It was so fast! That can’t be allowed! That can’t be a hockey play! The only way to stop hits like his from happening is to ban hitting. Sorry folks. You’ve. Got. Nothing. (Tough Call)

I wonder how the author would feel if Brooks Orpik had laid this hit on Sidney Crosby? I am sure that his perspective would be different. I think the problem in the NHL is there's no respect among the players anymore. Eventually, we're going to get this right.

Letang could face discipline after late hit on Johansson. MORE: https://t.co/g0uxAkSyyK pic.twitter.com/2WZaCabjdt

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 3, 2016

Tom Wilson's Knee-on-Knee Hit on Conor Sheary

The big question of the night, will Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson be suspended for this knee-on-knee hit on Penguins forward Conor Sheary. There was no penalty called on the play. Also, keep in mind that Wilson has never been suspended.

(Video) Alex Ovechkin hit on Wayne Simmonds

Check out this hit by Washington Capitals All-World forward Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin finished his check on Philadelphia Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds. It was at the end of a tie-game and nothing came out of it.

Gormley: Chorney one of Caps' best 'under the radar' signings

Former Fighting Sioux defenseman Taylor Chorney has found a niche' in Washington. Chorney is playing former Fighting Sioux All-American T.J. Oshie in the nation's capital.

Chuck Gormley, CSN Atlantic--- Quietly effective: Through 36 games Caps defenseman Taylor Chorney has five assists and ranks tied for third on the team with a plus-14 rating while averaging 13:17 of ice time.

“He’s one of those real good signings for us this year,” Caps coach Barry Trotz said. “He’s under the radar. (His free-agent signing) was a footnote for a lot of people in this area.

“He’s come in and filled a really good role, can play both sides on the back end and he’s been solid. Todd (Reirden) has done a good job with all our defensemen and I’m real happy with Taylor. There are certain guys everybody sort of cheers for and he’s one of them.”

Currently, the Capitals are the best team in the NHL with a 38-8-3 record and 73 points. The closest team to the Capitals are the Western Division leading Chicago Blackhawks who have 68 points.

Alex Ovechkin Nets 500

Washington Capitals All-World forward Alex Ovechkin scored his 500th goal of his career against the Ottawa Senators. IMHO, Ovechkin is one of the greatest hockey players of my lifetime. Ovie joins some pretty good players in the 500 goal club.

Ovechkin 5th fastest #NHL player to 500 goals: 1. Gretzky (575 GP) 2. Lemieux (605) 3. Bossy (647) 4. Brett Hull (693) 5. Ovechkin (801)

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) January 11, 2016

T.J. Oshie Blows up Beau Bennett

My buddy is a Pittsburgh Penguins fan and he was unhappy with T.J. Oshie for this hit on Penguins forward Beau Bennett. Some might call it, Sioux on Pioneer abuse. The refs didn't call a penalty on the play.

Obviously, Pens fans aren't going to be very happy with Oshie, who also scored his ninth and 10 goals of the season tonight, leading the Capitals to a 4-1 win.

Here's my question; should the on-ice officials called a penalty on this play. One could make the argument for one.

T.J. Oshie Kisses His Stick

Oshie kisses his stick after scoring the 4th Caps goal, and his 3rd of the season pic.twitter.com/ew9wb8gjSO

— Stephanie (@myregularface) October 21, 2015

Classic T.J. Oshie... After scoring his third goal of the year and the fourth goal for the Capitals, Oshie kisses his stick.

Adam McQuaid vs T.J. Oshie (Video)

Former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie doesn't fight very much, but I think that he held his own against Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid who does do his fair share of fighting. Finally, I am also not sure what McQuaid is upset about, the hit looked good to me.

TJ Oshie is now a Washington Capital

by Redwing77

Today, T.J. Oshie, a former UND standout forward and St. Louis first round draft pick, was traded to the Washington Capitals.

In return, St. Louis receives former Blackhawk Troy Brouwer, former MTU goaltender Phoenix Copley, and a 2016 3rd round pick.

Oshie had a down year last year only recording 55 points (19g-36a), which is down from 2013-14 campaign where he had 60 points (21g-39a).  In other words, Oshie had an ok, but not great year last year.

Troy Brouwer had a "stellar" year where he scored 21g-22a (43 pts) in 82 games.  Phoenix Copley played 2 years at MTU before spending one year between Washington's ECHL and AHL team.  He posted a respectable 17-4-3 record with a 2.17 GAA and a .925 Save% in 26 games with the Hershey Bears.

My thoughts?  St. Louis wanted to make changes at the top of their lineup.  That meant trading Backes, Oshie, or both.  They traded Oshie.  They got meh in return.

This isn't a colossally bad trade (like Minnesota did by trading Nick Leddy for Ben Eager a few years back), but it's trading Washington a first line player (who will probably play on Washington's second line) for a 2nd line/3rd line forward.  The video in the article said "I love this move for Washington."  and "I love this move for Oshie."  What did they say for Brouwer and St. Louis?  "Interesting move for St. Louis."  Yup.

I recognize they wanted to make a change.  But the question is:  Are you making a change to make a difference and improve your team or are you making a change just to make a change (send a message)?  My guess:  This was a trade just to make a change.  St. Louis did not improve one bit from this. 

Winner:  Washington

Video: New York Ranger: Derek Stepan's Series-Clinching Goal and Hand Shake

The New York Rangers are going back to the Eastern Conference Finals for a second year in a row. Former Wisconsin Badgers forward Derek Stepan scored the series-clinching goal at the 11:24 mark fo the overtime period.

Former #Badgers McDonagh and Stepan have OT goals to help Rangers advance past Washington in Stanley Cup playoffs.

— Andy Baggot (@AndyBaggotWSJ) May 14, 2015

Video: Brooks Orpik levels Dan Boyle

This is the hit Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik put on Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle. Do you think that this is a dirty hit? Is there a suspension coming? Boyle left the game after the hit.

@Dave_Schwartz cheap shot elbow to the head not called.

— GPL (@GopherPuckLive) May 14, 2015

@DRdiabloTHW oh man. That's a lot of elbow to head :S

— Callum Fraser (@CallumFraser18) May 14, 2015

@DRdiabloTHW oh man. That's a lot of elbow to head :S

— Callum Fraser (@CallumFraser18) May 14, 2015

Video: Capitals Disallowed Goal Against the Rangers

Capitals forward Joel Ward thought he had scored the go-ahead goal against the Rangers in the second period of Friday's game. Unfortunately for Ward, the refs ruled that he had interfered with the Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

On the non-goal, the ruling on the ice was that Joel Ward's contact with Lundqvist prevented him from making the save. No penalty. No goal.

— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) May 9, 2015

Ruling per the Washington Post

According to NHL rule 69.1, “Goal will be disallowed if . . . an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact. The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice judgement of the Referee(s), and not by means of video replay or review.”

Odds for the Stanley Cup

Odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup

New York Rangers                     13/4 

Chicago Blackhawks                 4/1 

Anaheim Ducks                         9/2 

Minnesota Wild                         11/2 

Montreal Canadiens                   13/2 

Tampa Bay Lightning                 15/2 

Washington Capitals                  9/1 

Calgary Flames                         12/1 

The odds to win the Stanley Cup come from Bovada,

(Video) Anders Lee vs. Tom Wilson

In game four, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson ran over New York Islanders d-man Lubomir Visnovsky. Wilson was given a two-minute minor penalty for charging. Visnovsky left the game and didn't return.

Fast forward to tonight, that hit didn't sit well with the Islanders. So, you could say that this fight is a direct result of that hit. If I was the Islanders coach, I would rather have my goon, Matt Martin fighting the Capitals goon Wilson.

Capitals Tom Wilson Smokes Islanders D-Man Lubomir Visnovsky

Last night, at the 05:54 mark of the second period, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson ran over New York Islanders d-man Lubomir Visnovsky. Wilson was given a two-minute minor penalty for charging. Visnovsky left the game and didn't return. That hit didn't sit well with the Islanders.

Islanders forward Kyle Okposo wasn't very impressed with Wilson's charge.

"He's an idiot," Okposo said of Wilson. "The guy runs around, hits reckless, leaves his feet. There's no place for that."

#Isles' Kyle Okposo on Tom Wilson's hit that knocked Lubomir Visnovsky out of game four, "(Wilson's) an idiot." pic.twitter.com/aHApLLUqfe
— Kevin Maher (@KMaherNews12) April 22, 2015

Wilson will not be suspended for his hit on Visnovsky.

@MattBarnaby3636 there isn't going to be one.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 22, 2015

A Look at the NHL Standings

With the win against the Chicago Blackhawks last night, the Wild are in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There's one spot remaining in the West. In the East, the Bruins, Pens and Senators are fighting for the remaining spot. It's going down to the wire.

Nick Bjugstad's Sick Shootout Goal

Former Minnesota Golden Gopher Nick Bjugstad scores a sick game-wining shootout goal for the Florida Panthers against the Washington Capitals. The shootout in question went 20 rounds before the Panthers ended up winning the game.

Drew Miller's Disallowed Goal, Luke Glendening Goalie Interference

From the blown call department. Here's the video of Detroit Red Wings forward Drew Miller's disallowed Goal. If you look closely you will see that Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby trips all by himself. Red Wings forward  Luke Glendening was given a two-minute penalty for goalie interference.

WASHINGTON POST: Capitals hosting Blackhawks in 2015 Winter Classic

#495205101 / gettyimages.com

Today we find out that the Winter Classic is going to be the Washington captials and the Chicago Blackhawks. Yep, I am underwhelmed as well. Now I get the Blackhawks, I do. But outside of Alex Ovechkin, who really stands out on the Captials for you? This doesn't smack as much a much see game.

Alex Prewitt, Washington Post -- The Washington Capitals will host the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 Winter Classic on New Year’s Day at a yet-to-be-announced location, an individual with knowledge of the situation confirmed Friday morning.

The Capitals will be playing in their second Winter Classic after visiting Pittsburgh in 2011, but will be hosting for the first time. The site has not yet been named, though sources indicated that Nationals Park remains the odds-on favorite, with only paperwork left to be finalized before the news is released.

Washington and Chicago met twice in 2013-14, in the regular-season opener and the penultimate game for both sides. The Blackhawks won at home, 6-4, on Oct. 1; the Capitals posted a 4-0 shutout at Verizon Center on April 11. The sides have split eight regular-season meetings over the past four seasons. Last season, the Blackhawks reached the Western Conference finals before losing to eventual Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles in seven games. The Capitals, meanwhile, missed the postseason for the first time since 2006-07 and parted ways with their head coach (Adam Oates) and general manager (George McPhee).

Flyers and Capitals line brawl

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Rivalry Night in Philly. The official boxscore will read (see below). Two players were kicked out of the game for their efforts.

11:59 WSH Tom Wilson Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Luke Schenn
11:59 PHI Luke Schenn Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Tom Wilson
11:59 PHI Vincent Lecavalier Fighting (maj) - 5 min against John Erskine
11:59 WSH John Erskine Fighting (maj) - 5 min against Vincent Lecavalier
11:59 PHI Vincent Lecavalier Game misconduct - 10 min
11:59 WSH Tom Wilson Instigator - 2 min
11:59 WSH Tom Wilson Game misconduct - 10 min
11:59 PHI Wayne Simmonds Cross checking - 2 min against Connor Carrick
11:59 PHI Wayne Simmonds served by Steve Downie Slashing - 2 min against Connor Carrick
11:59 WSH John Erskine Game misconduct - 10 min against Vincent Lecavalier