In the third period of the Washington Capitals' 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at Verizon Center, Rene Bourque lifted his right elbow up and struck Nicklas Backstrom in the jaw. Backstrom stayed in the game briefly but had to come out.
It reached the point where the NHL's suspension process was so mysterious and unclear that it was a running joke. An online "Wheel of Justice" was created to predict a player's supplemental discipline after a questionable incident.
Alex Ovechkin likes to hit. He plays on the edge. Sometimes that costs him, like this week when he was dealt a three-game suspension that knocks the Washington Capitals star out until Feb. 4.
It wasn't a penalty Sunday afternoon, but Alex Ovechkin is paying significantly for his hit on Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek.
Zach Bogosian's elbow made contact with Washington Capitals rookie Cody Eakin's head. That was enough to warrant a Thanksgiving Day hearing for the Winnipeg Jets forward with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan.
Sid the Kid is back.
The next player to hammer a goaltender outside the crease isn't likely to get off as easily as Milan Lucic.
The NHL's general managers are looking to clarify rules about contact involving goalies after Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller sustained a concussion following a collision with Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Andy Sutton was suspended five games on Tuesday for elbowing Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog.
