VIDEO: Ovechkin slashes Letang in the back of the leg
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang briefly left Tuesday's game against the Washington Capitals after Alex Ovechkin took a swing at him with his stick.
Ovechkin caught Letang with a two-handed slash to the back of the right leg early in the third period, causing the Penguins blue-liner to lose his balance and go crashing into the boards.
Letang returned shortly after being escorted to the locker room.
No penalty was assessed, but the next seven minutes were filled with infractions.
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
Ovechkin's night got even more eventful when a fan tossed a beer on him during a scrum later in the period.
The captain was asked about the slash after the game.
Ovi: "I didn't think it was a penalty."
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_Trib) February 18, 2015
Penguins head coach Mike Johnston, however, said the officials missed the call.
Coach Johnston on the Ovechkin slash on Letang: “I didn’t like it. I don’t think anybody on the ice saw it, or they would have called it."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 18, 2015
The Capitals hung on for a 3-1 victory at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, and the two clubs won't have to wait long to renew hostilities.
They meet again in Washington next Wednesday.
HEADLINES
- Hellebuyck: 'I was playing the best hockey of my career' in Round 1 loss
- Pricey acquisitions will have a say in who wins the West
- Andersen, Ingram, Kylington voted Masterton Trophy finalists
- Kopitar: 'It just sucks' losing to Oilers for 3rd straight year
- Leafs still alive: 6 battles that will decide Game 6