Ovechkin's reaction to suspension

Ovechkin (via washcaps):

"I regret that this has happened. I’m glad that Tim wasn’t injured because I never ever want to see anyone get hurt.

I am disappointed to miss these games and I can’t wait to get back on the ice next week to help my team."

By Stu Hackel, Slap Shot, The New York Times:

The National Hockey League announced Tuesday it had suspended the Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin for two games without pay in the aftermath of his knee-on-knee collision with Carolina’s Tim Gleason.

Ovechkin was the league’s top goal scorer in each of the past two seasons and his 18 goals this season (tied with San Jose’s Dany Heatley) give him the second highest total behind the Rangers’ Marian Gaborik, who has 21 goals.

In announcing the suspension, the league said: “At 12:05 of the first period, Ovechkin was involved in an incident where he extended his knee while delivering a hit to Hurricanes’ defenseman Tim Gleason. Ovechkin was assessed a major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct on the play.”

Ovechkin will forfeit $98,844 in missing games against the Florida Panthers and Philadelphia Flyers. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund. He is eligible to return Dec. 7 at Tampa Bay.

“Ovechkin said he was just trying to make a normal hit on Gleason, but the ‘Canes’ defenseman turned quickly and Ovechkin didn’t react in time,” read a statement posted on NHL.com. “Nevertheless, it was his second game misconduct in the last three games. He also was called for a five-minute boarding major and game misconduct in last Wednesday’s game against Buffalo.”

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