The Washington Capitals got a win on Monday night against the Anaheim Ducks. Although, one of their players will soon feel a loss in his pocketbook.
The Washington Capitals played a tough physical game against the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night. Lately, the fourth line has been full of energy. No more so than the last-minute of the second period against the Ducks.
Caps defenseman John Carlson pinched to keep the puck in the offensive zone and sent it behind the net. Ducks center Derek Grant gathered the puck and tried to clear.
Before Grant could make a play, left winger Brendan Leipsic came in and separated him from the puck with a forceful yet clean body check. Caps winger Garnet Hathaway picked up the loose puck and found center Chandler Stephenson in the high slot. Stephenson rifled a shot top shelf blocker side for a 3-0 Caps lead with 33 seconds left in the period.
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Immediately after Leipsic floored Grant, Ducks’ defenseman Erik Gudbranson took exception to the hit and started punching the Caps winger. Fortunately for the Caps, the refs let the play continue.
While three Ducks were beating on Leipsic, Stephenson had some extra room to extend the Caps lead. Hathaway then came to Leipsic’s rescue and started thumping Derek Grant with some right roundhouses eventually knocking the Duck to the ice.
At one point all ten skaters paired up. For the Caps, Leipsic and Hathaway were the aggressors. The Ducks countered with Gudbranson, Grant, and Nick Ritchie.
After the initial combatants separated, Ritchie took exception to Hathaway getting the better of Grant and approached Hathaway while the referees were holding the Cap winger. Then Gudbranson came in for his turn.
While Hathaway was being restrained by the referees, Gudbranson sucker punched Hathaway. Hathaway lost his cool and responded by spitting in Gudbranson’s general direction.
Hathaway received a match penalty and was ejected. There is no place for that behavior in hockey and the refs made the right call to eject Hathaway.
After the game, Hathaway made himself available to the media and was remorseful. The entire interview can be seen here.
"I reacted a little emotionally… It has no place… It was a quick reaction and unfortunately the wrong one."
The Caps winger will certainly have a hearing with the NHL office and will most likely be suspended. His words after the game indicate he won’t be called back to the league office again for spitting.
The Caps play the Ducks in Anaheim on December 6. Will the Ducks seek retribution for the spit heard around the District?