Trotz wants Ovechkin to take fewer slashing penalties

Barry Trotz has been on Alex Ovechkin's case about discipline before, but it's become a renewed concern amid the NHL's crackdown on slashing infractions.

The Washington Capitals head coach expressed some frustration Wednesday night with his team as a whole, and particularly with his captain's penchant for hacking opponents.

"Too many slashing penalties," Trotz told reporters following a 4-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, according to The Washington Post's Isabelle Khurshudyan. "Ovi took two. We've got to get that out of his game."

The league has made a concerted effort to call more slashing penalties in the preseason, in addition to enforcing faceoff violation rules.

"I hope it's not going to be like that in the regular year," Ovechkin said Wednesday night.

He had the second-most minor penalties on the team last season (25), and nearly half of them (10) were slashing calls.

Trotz called out Ovechkin last December after the physical forward took a handful of minors in a three-game stretch.

- With h/t to NBC Pro Hockey Talk