What is slashing in hockey?

We've been getting a lot new readers to the site lately. Some old timers and some young bucks new to the sport. So it's time for some hockey 101 Washington Capitals fans. Today's lesson we're going to learn what exactly is a boarding play.

What is slashing?

You have to stay calm when you check an opponent and push them off the board. Violent boardiing can result in penalties and damage equipment worn by the opponenents. But when you check someone properly like a chess game it's a good decision. It works in the NHL but not so much during international tournaments.

A slashing penalty

A slashing penalty is when a player swings their stick at an opponent whether it is a foreceful chop with the stick on an opponent's body or opponenent's stick. A minor penalty is usually assessed and the following verbiage and explanation of the rule comes from the USA Hockey Rule Book which fans are encouraged to check out.

What about a Major?

A major would be called plus a game misconduct shall a player recklessly endangers an opponent. You can also get a match penalty for reckless endangerment. Any player that swings their stick at another player in the course of an altercation shall be assesesed a minor or major plus game misconduct or match penalty. That is addition to anything warranted under the fighting rule.

A minor penalty can be called to any player that makes stick contact with an opposing goalkeeper while they are in their goal crease and who has covered or caught the puck. This can happen regardless of whether or not the ref has stopped the play.

The Caps have been victim to boarding or slashing throughout the course of their history. It's costed players chances to be successful and win as we saw in the Stanley Cup playoffs.