Varlamov gets a check to the neck by Chris Kunitz (update)

 

Slow motion...


Caps coach Bruce Boudreau wasn't happy with the shot Kunitz landed on Varlamov in the scrum around the Washington net just before Crosby's third goal. Boudreau said Kunitz shoved his stick under Varlamov's mask before the puck was on its way to the net.

"It's a direct cross-check to his throat just before Crosby scored," said Boudreau, who said he saw a replay of the incident after the game. "There's no puck there - nothing. We hope the league takes a long look at that."

Just in case you're curious, "Kunitz" is a slavic last name and it means "Marten".

Two weasels separated at birth.

Update:
By Dan Rosen, NHL.com, May. 5, 2009:

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Alex Ovechkin was hoping for more, but Pittsburgh Penguins wing Chris Kunitz will not be suspended by the NHL for his late-game hit to the neck area of Capitals goalie Simeon Varlamov seconds before Sidney Crosby scored his third goal of Game 2 with 30.4 seconds left in the third period.

League officials confirmed that the tape has been reviewed.

Tuesday morning Ovechkin called the play "dirty" and said, "I think the League has to do something about it. It's a cheap shot and it's not good for hockey."

"Can you imagine if he gave (Varlamov) an injury, what are we going to do?" Ovechkin said. "If it's not going to be called it's going to be a terrible decision and I'm going to be (mad) about it."

Update:
By Dave Molinari, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 5, 2009:

Penguins left winger Chris Kunitz will be fined, but not suspended, for a cross-check to the head of Washington goalie Simeon Varlamov late in the Capitals' 4-3 victory in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series at the Verizon Center last night.

Kunitz had a telephone hearing with Colin Campbell, the NHL's director of hockey operations, today.

The amount of his fine was not immediately known.

Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau described Kunitz' cross-check as "pretty vicious" after Game 2, and left winger Alex Ovechkin labeled it a "cheap shot" following Washington's practice today.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First published on May 5, 2009 at 3:55 pm

 TWEET THIS


Need to buy something on Amazon? Order via this blog, show support.