When an uninspired and Alex Ovechkin-less Washington Capitals team entered the third period of Sunday afternoon’s marquee match-up down 3-0, with one of the League’s most winningest teams in the Chicago Blackhawks no less, it seemed as though Bruce Boudreau’s squad had dug themselves into a hole that would be too great to overcome. But then Chicago defensemen Jordan Hendry clipped Caps sniper Alex Semin up high and was called for a double high-sticking minor only 3 minutes and 51 seconds into the game’s final period. A minute and 38 seconds later, it was 3-1 – Brooks Laich on the power play. Then, 2 minutes later, Nicklas Backstrom to make it 3-2. And then Eric Fehr, 13 seconds later, to knot the game at 3 apiece and send it into overtime where the Capitals would eventually prevail, 4-3, on a brilliant Backstrom goal. With their win over the Blackhawks, the Capitals became the first NHL team in the 2009-10 season to reach and then surpass 100 points (they now stand at 49-14-9 with 101 points), and in reaching the 100 point mark in only 69 games, this Caps team became the fastest in franchise history to record 100 points on the season.

But throughout two periods, the Washington Capitals for the most part failed to challenge Chicago netminder Antti Niemi, who turned away all 18 shots he faced in the first 40 minutes – although he played an incredible game and the final score was hardly a reflection of his effort. The low shot total can be attributed just as much to the skill of the Chicago defensemen as it can be to the Capitals lack of aggressiveness that was only amplified after their Captain, Alex Ovechkin, was ejected from the game on a questionable boarding call and resulting game misconduct. It was his third game misconduct of the season, leading all NHL players. After a reshuffling of the lines that sent forward Tomas Fleischman to fill the left wing position vacated by Ovechkin, the Capitals still looked unorganized for the game’s first 40 minutes, taking a total of five penalties in the first period alone (two by Ovechkin – his five minute major for boarding and the game misconduct – and two by Alex Semin…the second one, hilariously dumb, plus an Eric Belanger roughing call). And despite a few great chances generated off the rush by Mike Knuble, the Capitals failed to create any semblance of a net presence, and were constantly held to the outside where they lost battle after battle along the boards.

But while the Capitals might have lacked numerous scoring opportunities in the first two periods, they did play a game with snarl, as fans were treated to quite a few post-whistle scrums, one in particular that involved all five of the Caps skaters – the best attempt at a brawl we have seen by the Caps this year. Understandably, emotions were running high as not even halfway through the game’s first 20 minutes, the Capitals saw their star player make the walk to the dressing room, done for the afternoon because of a supposedly overaggressive check that sent the ‘Hawks expensive ‘D’-man Brain Campbell hard into the boards. Campbell did not return to the game. Check out the hit here: .

“I didn't hit [Campbell] hard,” said Ovechkin who was noticeably subdued in his post-game interview. “He fell bad. And that’s probably why it looks bad. But you can see, every shift this happens - little pushes, little battles.” Keep in mind too that Ovechkin is 6 feet, 2 inches, yet weighs 233 lbs. Now compare that to Campbell, who is listed at 6 feet and only 189 lbs. And while Ovechkin certainly intended to check Campbell – it’s a hockey game after all, and Ovechkin’s physical game is part of what makes him a standout player (can be interpreted both ways, we understand) – we don’t believe Ovechkin intended to injury Campbell, hardly, especially not to the point where the veteran was unable to return to the game. However, the League is cracking down on these so called dangerous hits, and Ovechkin now has a track record of playing a game that can be overly aggressive to the point where some now say he disregards the safety of his fellow NHLers. Ovechkin will avoid an automatic suspension because of the fine print of NHL Rule 23.5, Fines and Suspensions - Stick Infractions, Boarding and Checking from Behind. Apparently, good behavior works in Ovechkin’s favor since half a season (41 games) has passed since his last major boarding call and game misconduct (his Nov. 25th boarding call on Paul Kaleta). So, he will avoid an automatic suspension. Despite whether or not you feel that Ovechkin’s hit on Campbell was even worth a major penalty, much less a game misconduct, now that Ovechkin has record with Colin Campbell – the NHL’s head disciplinarian – there’s a chance that the League might discipline him once again. And as early as the game’s end on Sunday, fans, bloggers and media personalities began once again to separate into their “Alex Ovechkin just plays a physical game/the Game Misconduct was excessive/the League shouldn’t suspend him…they can’t afford the drop in ratings that would inevitably result in” camp and the “Alex Ovechkin is a reckless player than has a record of dangerous play who needs to learn a lesson such that suspending him twice in the regular season would do and fining him any amount of money would never do” camp.

As of Monday morning, Chicago team officials have announced that Campbell has a broken collar bone and a broken rib that likely will keep him out of the line-up for the remainder of the regular season. This does not help Ovechkin’s case to avoid supplementary discipline. He has a hearing scheduled for noon on Monday, March 15th. However, also of Monday, the Capitals have supposedly made moves or plan to make moves to ask the NHL to rescind the game misconduct to Ovechkin, echoing their head coach’s thoughts on Sunday afternoon. “Well, I thought it was a push from the side,” said Bruce Boudreau. “He could see [Campbell’s] numbers but it wasn’t a dead one to the boards…Campbell was turning and Alex didn’t extend his arms, he pushed him and I don’t even think he was off balance but sometimes you know you don’t realize how strong Alex is and he went into the boards. I hope he’s OK, but I didn’t think it was a bad check worth a five [minute major] and a game, I thought it was worth two [minute minor] at the most but I don’t make the calls.”

Worth a gamer? Worth even a five? Even NBC commentator Mike Milbury who is famous for enraging Caps fans with his apparent bias against Ovechkin (often in favor of Sid the Kid), and his Capitals team, seemed to think that a game misconduct was excessive, although his defense of Ovechkin’s check was made largely in the context of his own prerogative to call out the League on their attempts to legislate aggressive physical play out of the game. “Pretty soon it’s going to be squash anyway,” he said. Squash? Really Mike? If only he realized how many serious injuries occur in squash every year.

But while Ovechkin watched the rest of this game from the locker room, the Capitals returned to the ice in the third period as new team, a different team, that had jump and aggressively pursued the puck in creating scoring chances. Although the real turn-around stemmed from a gifted 5 on 3 opportunity as ‘Hawks centerman Colin Fraser was whistled for another high stick as the Caps were gathering the momentum from their first goal that would push them to the tie the game. In the third period alone, the Caps fired 11 shots and looked re-energized during long stretches of offensive zone time. “In the 3rd period, I thought we came out really hard and we matched their push,” said Caps forward David Steckel. “Going into the third we knew if we could score one…and we got a break with the 5 on 3 and we knew if we could score there would have the momentum and it turned out that we carried it throughout the period.” So after 40 minutes of unimpressive hockey on national television, the Washington Capitals became the team that their fans know they can be – an aggressive, fast moving, dynamic scoring machine that rises to the occasion. “Once it got to 3-3, I think our guys just stood firm in the sand and just said ‘OK, we’re not going to lose this one,’” said Boudreau.

Although it was mostly thanks to Nicklas Backstrom that the Caps walked away with two points instead of one. After coughing up the puck at his own blue line, Backstrom singlehandedly battled the Chicago ‘D’-men (and Team Canada defense tandem) Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook to force his way to the net, planting a nifty shot between the legs of Niemi at 3 minutes and 10 seconds into the extra session. “I couldn’t find a pass so I was trying to challenge the D-man,” said Backstrom, “and I got lucky there, and it worked out this time.” Tremendous individual effort by the top line center. “Nicky, you know I’m glad he showed [his determination and skill] on NBC so the whole world can see how good he is,” said Boudreau. “This is what we see day in and day out…but he hadn’t scored in about 6 or 7 games and, and usually when great players [come out of] a slump, they don’t just stop at one, they keep going, and I thought he did, and I thought he played great.”

As of Monday at 2 PM, there is still no word to come out of Ovechkin’s disciplinary hearing with Colin Campbell, although expect word to come down shortly. There will have to be a decision before tomorrow’s game. But, let’s put the hit aside for a second, and take a step back. Sunday’s game was a highly anticipated match-up between the two most winningest teams in the NHL that was billed as a preview of the Stanley Cup Final. In many ways though, Sunday’s game probably left fans wanting – for 40 minutes, the dynamic, run-and-gun Washington Capitals were nowhere to be found, and they didn’t challenge a Chicago team that was clearly ready to play the best in the East; moreover, Ovechkin was tossed from the game, dashing all of NBC’s hopes for a huge ratings return. But for 20 minutes, it was exciting, and Capitals proved that perhaps all they need is 23 minutes and 10 seconds (even without Ovechkin) to beat the Chicago Blackhawks. When this team wants to play, they are a force that will challenge for a Cup; when they don’t, well, it’s now nothing short of disappointing. Way to make it easy on us boys!