Rangers' Artemi Panarin to Miss Rest of Season After Being Injured by Tom Wilson
May 4, 2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 03: Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals takes a roughing penalty during the second period against Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on May 03, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Rangers coach David Quinn confirmed Artemi Panarin will miss the team's final three games due to the lower-body injury he suffered in Monday's 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals.
Panarin exited the game in the second period after twice being slammed to the ice by Tom Wilson.
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wilson received a $5,000 fine for his roughing penalty on Pavel Buchnevich. The scuffle with Panarin went unmentioned.
I understand why people are upset/confused over no suspension for Tom Wilson, but here's how the Department of Player Safety saw it..
-The "fall" on Buchnevich isn't much. -The punch is what Wilson got fined for. -Everything after? Two guys wrestling, which happens every night. https://t.co/t2HeFFLYPd
Quinn criticized Wilson after the game and told reporters Panarin "could've got seriously, seriously hurt."
"We all saw it. There's lines that can't be crossed...one of the star players in this league now who could have been seriously seriously hurt in that incident" - David Quinn on the Tom Wilson incident with Artemi Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich pic.twitter.com/jDxrvNpyQ3
Many expected Wilson to receive a suspension of some kind since the 27-year-old is a repeat offender. He was most recently banned for seven games in March after hitting Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo in the head during a check along the boards.
Instead, it appears Panarin will be the only one to miss time.
The Russian wing's injury doesn't ultimately change much for the Rangers, who have already been eliminated from postseason contention. New York is fifth in the East division, nine points behind the New York Islanders.
Panarin finishes the year with 17 goals and 41 assists in 42 games. Despite him missing so much time, his 58 points will likely wind up as the most on the team, with Mika Zibanejad sitting in second at 48 points.
Alex Ovechkin 'Unlikely' to Play for Capitals vs. Rangers Due to Lower-Body Injury
May 4, 2021
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - APRIL 22: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates during warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum on April 22, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images)
Washington Capitals coach Peter Laviolette confirmed Alex Ovechkin is "unlikely" to suit up Wednesday against the New York Rangers.
Ovechkin, who's battling a lower-body injury, spent just 39 seconds on the ice in Monday's 6-3 victory over the Rangers. He had missed Washington's previous four games before that.
The 35-year-old leads the team in goals (24) and is seventh in assists (18).
The Capitals have four games left on the schedule, and they've already clinched a berth in the playoffs. Perhaps Laviolette is being proactive with Ovechkin and sees little reason to risk a more serious injury before the postseason.
Goaltending is one of Washington's biggest concerns heading into the next phase of the year. The team is 18th in goals against per game (2.94), and neither Vitek Vanecek nor Ilya Samsonov has logged a single playoff appearance in the NHL.
Winning it all without an elite defense isn't impossible, but it's certainly tough. The Caps might need to score goals in bucketfuls to lift the Stanley Cup for a second time.
Because of that, Ovechkin's health is paramount. If he's not at 100 percent, then it could spell serious trouble for Washington.
Tom Wilson Fined $5K for Sucker-Punching Pavel Buchnevich, Starting Fight vs. Rangers
May 4, 2021
Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson (43) takes a roughing penalty during the second period against New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin (10) in an NHL hockey game Monday, May 3, 2021, in New York. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)
Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson has been fined for a roughing penalty on Pavel Buchnevich of the New York Rangers that led to a brawl between the two teams.
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday that Wilson received a $5,000 fine for his role in the altercation.
Midway through the second period, Buchnevich fell to the ice while battling with Wilson for the puck. The Capitals winger threw a punch that hit Buchnevich in the back of the head, resulting in an on-ice scrum.
Artemi Panarin was injured during the scrum after he jumped on Wilson, who was trying to throw a punch at Ryan Strome. The Rangers winger was pulled down to the ice after having his helmet pulled off by Wilson.
Speaking to reporters after his team's 6-3 loss, Rangers head coach David Quinn was very critical of Wilson's actions that led to Panarin getting hurt.
"We all saw it," said Quinn. "There are lines that can't be crossed in this game. There's just zero respect for the game in general. You got one of the star players in this league now that could have gotten seriously, seriously hurt in that incident."
Wilson was issued a double-minor penalty and a 10-minute misconduct, but he was able to finish the game. He scored an empty-net goal in the final two minutes of the third period.
This isn't the first time that Wilson has been involved in an in-game altercation. The 27-year-old was most recently suspended seven games in March for injuring Brandon Carlo of the Boston Bruins by hitting him into the boards.
Rangers HC David Quinn Rips Capitals' Tom Wilson After Artemi Panarin Injury
May 4, 2021
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 03: Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals takes a roughing penalty during the second period against Artemi Panarin #10 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on May 03, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
New York Rangers coach David Quinn said the NHL has "lines that can't be crossed" in reference to altercations involving Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson and Rangers wingers Artemi Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich in Monday's 6-3 loss.
Wilson initially swung at Buchnevich while the Rangers right wing was face-down on the ice. That drew the ire of Panarin, who got into a scuffle with Wilson that involved Wilson taking a helmet-less Panarin down to the ice twice.
Panarin exited with a lower-body injury, and Quinn told reporters the 29-year-old Russian "could've got seriously, seriously hurt."
"We all saw it. There's lines that can't be crossed...one of the star players in this league now who could have been seriously seriously hurt in that incident" - David Quinn on the Tom Wilson incident with Artemi Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich pic.twitter.com/jDxrvNpyQ3
"I figured you should have some more respect for the game and for the players...it's just horrible. Zero respect. I don't know why I'm surprised" - Mika Zibanejad on the Tom Wilson incident tonight pic.twitter.com/f1veh5G3af
Wilson was assessed a two-minute roughing penalty and a 10-minute misconduct penalty for his role in the incident. He remained in the game and scored Washington's final goal at the 18:34 mark of the third period.
The Athletic's Tarik El-Bashir noted Wilson has already amassed almost $1.3 million in fines and missed 30 games due to suspensions. Most recently, he was out for seven games because of a hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo along the boards.
Upon returning to the ice, the 27-year-old signaled a desire to rein in his aggression.
"At the end of the day, it can’t happen," he told reporters. "I can’t be missing seven games. I can’t be missing one game. I’ve got to be in the lineup."
That Wilson is a repeat offender could lead the NHL to hand down a more significant punishment than his seven-game ban. The Capitals have four games left in the regular season, so his availability for the playoffs could be in jeopardy.
The NHL is no longer a fighting league with enforcers to police the game. Tom Wilson has taken advantage of this. The NHL must hold Wilson and the Caps accountable. None of this 4 games and ready for game one garbage.
Asked about the consequences Wilson should face, Quinn said it wasn't his decision to make but that the NHL has "been dealing with this for a while."
Alex Ovechkin Ruled Out for Capitals vs. Rangers with Lower-Body Injury
May 3, 2021
VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 26: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on October, 26, 2017 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
The 35-year-old remains Washington's most dynamic player, as he entered Monday's action with 24 goals and 18 assists in 43 games.
Though he had his struggles at points in the 2016-17 season—his 33 goals were the fewest he's scored in a non-lockout season, his 3.82 shots per game were the lowest mark of his career, and he was even demoted to the third line during that year's postseason after failing to produce—he opened the 2017-18 season on fire, scoring 13 goals in the team's first 18 games.
A resurgent Ovechkin was a major plus for a Capitals team that would go on to win a first-ever Stanley Cup in 2018. Overall, he notched 49 goals and 38 assists that season, reestablishing himself as one of the game's dominant forces and offensive juggernauts. He built on that in the 2018-19 campaign with 51 goals and 38 assists.
Last year he posted 48 goals and 19 assists in 68 games.
Ovechkin can't be replaced in Washington. His absence will be a tough one for the Capitals to overcome if Monday's injury ends up being serious.
Alex Ovechkin, Capitals Clinch Postseason Berth; Latest 2021 NHL Playoff Picture
Apr 30, 2021
Washington Capitals' T.J. Oshie (77) celebrates his goal with teammates Nicklas Backstrom (19) and Alex Ovechkin (8) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Sunday, April 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Though they lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, the Washington Capitals still managed to clinch a playoff berth for the seventh straight season.
All they needed was one point against the Penguins, which they earned since the game went to overtime, and a little help from the New York Islanders, who defeated the New York Rangers.
Alex Ovechkin got to lift his first Stanley Cup in 2018, a long-sought-after achievement following years of postseason heartbreak. Since then, the Capitals have bowed out in the first round in two straight years. They lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games in 2019 and then got dumped out by the New York Islanders in five games in 2020.
Following the latter exit, the Washington Post's Samantha Pell wrote it was "potentially the end of an era." Braden Holtby was a free agent and signed a two-year, $8.6 million deal with the Vancouver Canucks. Ovechkin turned 35 in September and is due to become a free agent.
The franchise seemed to acknowledge the ticking clock it faces by almost immediately firing Todd Reirden after their Game 5 loss to the Islanders. The Caps couldn't afford to be stagnant for another season and brought in Peter Laviolette to shake things up.
Here's a look at what they have to counter with as it stands now:
Ovechkin (24 goals, 18 assists), Nicklas Backstrom (14 goals, 37 assists) and John Carlson (10 goals, 32 assists) have spearheaded one of the NHL's most potent attacks. The Capitals' 3.43 goals per game rank second.
Washington's hopes of capturing a second championship will likely hinge on how Vitek Vanecek and Ilya Samsonov perform between the pipes, though. The team is 14th in goals allowed (2.90 per game). In addition, neither Vanecek nor Samsonov has appeared in a single postseason game.
Here's where the last 10 Stanley Cup champions finished in goals allowed:
An elite defense isn't a prerequisite for winning it all—the 2017-18 Capitals were a perfect example—but it's undoubtedly tough to be the last team standing without one.
Perhaps Vanecek or Samsonov will thrive on the big stage, and inexperience can be beneficial in a way because the player isn't carrying the weight of past disappointments.
Because of their triumph three years ago, the pressure for the Caps to win isn't quite so acute. But any outcome in which the team doesn't at least advance a few rounds will likely be considered falling short of expectations.
Capitals' Henrik Lundqvist Has Inflammation Around His Heart, Won't Play This Season
Apr 11, 2021
New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist sits on the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2019. The Penguins won 6-5. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Washington Capitals goaltender Henrik Lundqvist will not make it back to the ice this season, the 39-year-old announced Sunday.
The former New York Rangers star underwent open-heart surgery in January 2021 to address a heart condition and hoped to appear in a game for the Capitals before the season ended. Lundqvist had been working with trainers to rejoin the team, but a recent check-up revealed inflammation around the goalie's heart that will require him to step back from the sport again.
Right after getting back on the ice after surgery, I made it my “stretch goal” to join @Capitals for the end of the season. Training has been going really well and I’ve been feeling good - but my heart isn’t quite ready.
Last week’s checkup showed some inflammation around the heart that now requires a few months more of rest and steady recovery. While it’s not what I hoped for, I know this is all part of the process of getting back to 100%.
Lundqvist has yet to appear in a game with Washington after signing a one-year, $1.5 million deal in October to join just the second NHL franchise of his career.
Lundqvist is sixth all time in NHL goalie wins (459) and second only to Marc-Andre Fleury (483) among active keepers. Both still have a ways to go before catching Martin Brodeur's 691 wins for most in league history, but they could become just third and fourth goalies to surpass 500 wins, respectively, after Brodeur and Patrick Roy (551).
Whether or not Lundqvist is able to get back on the ice at all is now a much more pressing issue.
In the meantime, the Capitals (26-11-4, 56 points) remain tied with the New York Islanders atop the East Division. Washington's top goaltender, Vitek Vanecek is fifth in the league with 16 wins this season, though his 2.66 goals-against average and 91.1 save percentage leave plenty to be desired.
The Caps are looking to march back to the Stanley Cup Final after winning the Cup in 2018. They'll now have to do that without any hope of Lundqvist returning this year—as well as determine how to proceed with the impending free agent this offseason.
Capitals' Alex Ovechkin Passes Phil Esposito for 6th-Most Goals in NHL History
Mar 16, 2021
Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin in action during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, March 11, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Add another accomplishment to Alex Ovechkin's illustrious career.
The Washington Capitals left winger put his team ahead of the New York Islanders 2-0 in Tuesday's contest with his 718th career goal. The future Hall of Famer passed Phil Esposito for the sixth-most goals in NHL history with the one-timer that went right past Semyon Varlamov.
Ovechkin came into Tuesday's game with 21 points on 11 goals and 10 assists this season after scoring 67 points on 48 goals and 19 assists during the shortened 2019-20 campaign. He has scored at least 50 goals in eight seasons since he entered the league in 2005-06.
While it remains to be seen how long the 35-year-old will play, he could well climb the all-time goals list in the coming years.
Wayne Gretzky's 894 goals may be a bit ambitious, but Marcel Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741), Jaromir Jagr (766) and Gordie Howe (801) are not that much further ahead of Ovechkin following his latest goal.
Regardless of where he ends up on the list, he is one of the best players in NHL history.
He is a Stanley Cup winner, 12-time NHL All-Star Team selection, three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner and nine-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner who also has a Calder Memorial Trophy, Art Ross Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy on his resume.
Ovechkin has an opportunity to add a second Stanley Cup to that list if the Capitals continue to play well. They entered play in second place in the East Division with 40 points, just two behind the Islanders.
Capitals' Tom Wilson Suspended 7 Games for Hit on Bruins' Brandon Carlo
Mar 6, 2021
Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) warms up before an NHL hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The play occurred in the first period of Boston's 5-1 win over the Capitals. Carlo was tangled up against the boards with Jakub Vrana when Wilson zoomed in and appeared to hit his head into the glass. The Bruins defenseman immediately grabbed his head and fell to his knees.
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy told reporters after the game that Carlo was hospitalized as a result of the hit.
Per ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, Wilson was going to have a hearing with the NHL department of player safety to discuss potential discipline.
Wyshynski noted that an in-person hearing typically suggests the league is considering a suspension of more than five games.
Wilson has a long history of discipline due to rules violations. The 26-year-old was suspended four different times in the span of 105 games between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He received a 20-game ban in October 2018 for a hit to the head of St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist during a preseason game.
A neutral arbitrator reduced Wilson's suspension from 20 to 14 games the following month. He has racked up 1,052 penalty minutes in 543 games played.
Wilson is in his eighth season with the Capitals. He was drafted in the first round (No. 16 overall) by the franchise in 2012.
Capitals' Henrik Lundqvist Says He's 'Looking Great' After Having Heart Surgery
Feb 17, 2021
FILE - New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist reacts after a save during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in New York, in this Sunday, March 1, 2020, file photo. The Flyers defeated the Rangers 5-3. Star goalie Henrik Lundqvist will sit out the upcoming NHL season because of a heart condition, announcing the news a little more than two months after joining the Washington Capitals. Lundqvist posted a written statement and a videotaped one on social media Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, saying it was a
On Wednesday, the veteran provided an update on his recovery:
Today is a good day. The checkup with the doctor this morning reaffirmed what I’ve been feeling last few weeks, everything looking great. It energized me so much I had to go out for a run (FYI, I’m not a runner) Today is a good day! 😃👍🏻#Stepbysteppic.twitter.com/AXrZzMDbts
Lundqvist called it a "pretty tough and emotional day" and said it was "still very hard for me to process all of this. And kind of shocking, to be honest."
He provided another update on Jan. 8 after undergoing the surgery:
Day 3. Surgery went really well. About 5 hours to get it all taken care of. Really appreciate the great staff here at the Clevland Clinic. Last few days has been pretty crazy but feel like I’m in really good hands. Every day is a step in the right direction 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/wjMTosFWQy
The 38-year-old spent the first 15 years of his NHL career with the New York Rangers, helping lead the team to 12 postseason appearances. He is a two-time All-Star and was the 2011-12 Vezina Trophy winner (he has also finished top-three in Vezina voting four times).
Hesigneda one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Capitals in October.
"For a few weeks now, I've been doing my homework on all different scenarios and options for me, and I have to say, the Capitals, they checked every box," he told reporters at the time. "When it comes to a team that understands winning, a great coaching staff and an opportunity to play some games were the main factors for me."
Unfortunately, Lundqvist won't play for the team this season. But by all indications, his recovery from open-heart surgery is going well.
