Ovechkin Suspension the Right Decision

And so Colin Campbell has spun the wheel and the Gr8 Alex Ovechkin will sit for two games.

You'd be forgiven for thinking Campbell does indeed have a wheel resembling that from the well known game show Wheel of Fortune at times, with the numbers replaced by differing disciplinary actions - "Knee-on-knee hit you say? * spins wheel * That's four games son!"

But this time, I think he has it right! Campbell had almost painted himself in to a corner with this one - the Matt Cooke hit on Marc Savard last week drew attention from hockey fans everywhere, but Campbell remained firm under fire, saying he could not suspend Cooke after dropping the ball and not suspending Mike Richards for a similar hit earlier in the season. Ok, I added that 'dropping the ball bit' myself, but if Campbell wishes us to believe that there is some method to his madness, by the same token that Cooke could not sit due to the Richards 'saga' then Ovie surely had to as well? Thanks largely to Maxim Lapierre's four game ban.

Lapierre was, rightly, given a suspension for shoving Scott Nichol from behind in to the boards, in a recent clash between San Jose and Montreal. I'm inclined to agree that Lapierre's hit was probable worse than Ovechkins, there are still too many similarities to allow the Caps star to escape a ban, while the Habs man takes a seat in the press box - both players shoved an opponent from behind (on the numbers - in my eyes a big no no), in a position of vulnerability, and at some speed. Add on to that Ovechkin's previous this season and Campbell needed to show, or attempt to show, the NHL disciplinary system shows no favour or bias because of a players name or status.

Ovechkin is a star, he plays on the edge and scores plenty of goals - and for that I have the utmost respect! He is great fun to watch at his best, and a rare breed that can lift you from your seat with a shake if his wrists. And I am quite sure he did not intend to injure Campbell, and at least had the decency to apologise publically today. But that should not absolve one from punishment if they cross the line.