65th puck, canceled goal and conflict with referees: Ovechkin was removed because of applause to the judges in the NHL playoff match

The defeat of "Washington"

After the success on their ice, the hockey players of “Washington” took the lead in the series, they needed one more victory to reach the second round of the NHL playoffs. Todd Ryrden's wards were required to take one of the two remaining matches. However, in the sixth meeting, which was held at the site of “Caroline” - “PnC Arena”, the “capital” suffered a major defeat, and their captain Alexander Ovechkin again became the main character of the game.

Already in the first half of the period, Ovechkin managed to check in with three power moves, and in the second half, for the fourth time in a series, goalkeeper Hurricanes Pyotr Mrazek was distressed. With the score 1: 1 on the board, he received a program from his compatriot Dmitry Orlov, shifted from the left edge to the center and powerfully threw into the far corner. Czech goalkeeper was powerless.

This accurate shot allowed Ovechkin to reach the clean 22nd place in NHL history for goals in the Stanley Cup. The score is 65 abandoned washers, which is one more than Ivan Kurnuye, Brian Propp, Bobby Smith and Peter Forsberg. Very soon, Alexander can enter the top 20 best playoff snipers. From the 19th line it is separated only by one goal.

In addition, Ovechkin was among the top 50 scorers in the playoffs. After the sixth match with “Caroline” in his asset 125 points (65 + 60). As much as the former defender of the “Boston Bruins” Brad Park and the ex-forward of the “New Jersey Devils” Patrick Eliasch.

Despite the inspired performance of the leader, the "capital" could not build on success. In the second period, Teuvo Teriaväinen equalized the score, and at the beginning of the third Jordan Staal led the hosts ahead. And in the episode with the third puck "Carolina" Ovechkin was on the ice. Alexander was unable to prevent Justin Folk from throwing a shot at Brayden Holtby’s goal, after which his team-mate played on the finish.

After that, Yevgeny Kuznetsov broke into the opponent's zone and tried to beat Mrazek in melee combat. The Czech goalkeeper saved his team, but suddenly Ovechkin moved into the back of the goalkeeper, and as a result the puck was in the net. Hockey players of “Washington” began to vigorously celebrate success, but the arbitrators did not count the goal.

This caused outrage among the guests, who requested to watch the episode from the "war room" in Toronto. They also confirmed the decision of Chris Rooney and Kyle Reman, not allowing Ovechkin to draw his 66th goal in the playoffs.

“The goalkeeper did not control and did not see the puck. I do not know what the referee said there. All this is somehow strange. The game is over, moving on. Nothing can be done about it, ”said Ovechkin Russian Machine Never Breaks.

The incident with nezaschitannom goal also commented and mentor "Washington" Todd Rearden. According to him, the arbitrators did not even explain to him why such a decision was made.

“Nothing is clear to me yet. The play-off continues, so there is almost no dialogue between coaches and referees. They have made a decision and have the right not to explain the reason. Yes, they did it - they did not come to my bench, ”said Reerden.

Subsequently, the TSN portal published an official rationale for the “war room” regarding the episode with the canceled Ovechkin goal.

“We confirm the decision to cancel the goal, since Alexander Ovechkin attacked Pyotr Mrazek (pushed him into the shield). According to rule 69.3, if a player initiates contact with the goalkeeper when he is in the goalkeeper's area, the puck must be canceled, ”the NHL press service’s official statement says.

It is worth noting that the Ovechkin puck was not the only one canceled in this match. In the first period, the arbitrators did not count Justin Williams goal because of the game with a high stick. The captain of the "Carolina" took advantage of the blunder of the defenders of "Washington", handled the transmission in the air and outplayed Holtby in melee.

The decision of the arbitrators knocked down the capitals hockey players who could not upset Mrazek for the third time. Immediately after the official announcement of the verdict of the “war room”, Ovechkin allowed himself a couple of rude remarks to the arbitrators, and at the very end, earned the removal. First, Alexander hit the stick of his opponent's defender Saku Mäenalanen, and then sarcastically slapped the judges. For this, the captain of "Washington" received a total of 12 minutes and left the penalty area.

By this time, “Carolina” has already led with a score of 5: 2 and in the remaining time calmly brought the match to victory. The hosts equalized the score in the series and gave the fans one of the most intriguing confrontations of the first round of the playoffs.

After the game, angry Ovechkin expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the work of the judges. In his opinion, many of their decisions were “strange.”

“I do not want to be a bad guy, but there is nothing funny here. It was a good battle. The rivals played great, they won the sixth match. The seventh meeting will be much more interesting. We know how to act in such situations. Both teams will feel the pressure, ”- Ovechkin quotes The Washington Post.

A trip to the playoffs for Radulov

Unlike “Washington”, “Dallas Stars” managed to resolve questions about reaching the next round of the playoffs in six meetings. On his ice, Jim Montgomery's team beat Nashville Predators, and Alexander Radulov took a direct part in the Texas victory.

The meeting was not the most effective. Through the efforts of Austin Watson, the guests opened the scoring in the sixth minute, and a period later the hosts restored parity. 33-year-old Canadian Blake Como was naked. In the remaining time, the teams could not be noted abandoned washers, and the outcome of the match was decided in overtime.

To the key point of the meeting, the team made a total of 98 shots at each other's goal. A little harder was the goalkeeper of “Nashville” Pekka Rinne, who managed to make 49 salvation. And then Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov organized a quick attack, during which the Russian rolled out the transfer to the blatant Yon Klingberg. The Swede got the puck in the left circle of the throw-in and shot the target.

Thus, Dallas won the series against Nashville 4-2 and advanced to the semi-finals of the Western NHL Conference. There he will meet with “St. Louis Blues”, the colors of which are protected by another Russian hockey player Vladimir Tarasenko.

As for Predator, the Tennessee team became the third division winner, who failed to overcome the barrier of the first round of the playoffs. The Central Division Triumphant joined Tampa Bay Lightning from the Atlantic and Calgary Flames from the Pacific. At the moment, the struggle continues only the leader of the Capital - "Washington Capitals."