GIF: Capitals' Carlson throws cheap shot at Ryan Johansen

Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson could be hearing from the NHL Department of Player safety for his role in a second period incident on Thursday night during which he threw a rather blatant cheap shot at Columbus Blue Jackets forward Ryan Johansen.

(Courtesy: Fox Sports)

Though Carlson was only assessed a minor penalty for roughing on the play, this hit checks off a lot of the "deserving of supplementary discipline" checkmarks. Johansen wasn't close to a puck, Carlson was obviously upset immediately following a big hit by Blue Jackets winger Nick Foligno and Calrson appears to pick Johansen's head on the hit ...

Carlson's coach Barry Trotz was not at all impressed by his defender's lack of discipline:

(Courtesy: Fox Sports)

Quick, someone give that man a hug!

This ugly sequence was just one of several as things got rough in the second period of Thursday night's game. It's certainly fair to say that things escalated quickly:

(Courtesy: NHL.com)