OVECHKIN: IT WAS NORMAL EPISODE

Alexandr Ovechkin became an active participant of the conflict, which resembled recent scandalous fight on ice in Chekhov.


Tampa Bay Lightning defeated leader of their division Washington Capitals for the first time since 2007 and snatched 7-4 victory. Captain of Washington Alexandr Ovechkin didn’t bear with it and provoked the fight in the third period.

The Russian forward hit Tampa defenceman Steve Downie knee-to-knee, and has been accused of dirty hit. Downie challenged Ovechkin to fight before Washington’s Matt Bradley came to the ice from the substitutions’ bench to intervene the battle.

"We shouldn’t let such guy like Downie beat Russian best player", Bradley commented on his action.

"It was absolutely normal hockey episode, Ovechkin tried to calm down others. I was ready to fight when I saw Bradle coming to us. I am thankful to him and other players".

Traktor head coach Andrey Nazarov commented on the Tampa incident.

"Bradley acted wisely, maybe he got instructions from the head coach to intervene the fight", said Nazarov.

Referees were also challenged a little bit during this fight, and it’s the most dangerous moment in hockey. I remember that when I slightly stroke against the referee in NHL, the league suspended me for 10 matches".

Downie has rich experience of fighting with middleweighters in lower league, and he resembles Verot in this way".

Pay attention to the fact, that in Russia players begin fighting since the first minutes, while in NHL they take place closer to the end of the games when result is almost clear".

Moreover the mass fight in Tampa began on the 54th minute, before coming into effect of new NHL rule, according to which participants of fights and coaches will be fined".