The Capitals had the day off Tuesday after Monday night's pulse-pounding 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. However, the fallout from the contest continued Tuesday afternoon, as Bob McKenzie of TSN in Canada reports.
WSH has been told by NHLthere will be disciplinary hearing for Nick Backstrom's x-check match penalty, probably tomorrow.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) April 17, 2012
McKenzie doesn't specify whether the hearing will be in person or on the phone. The former option opens up the possibility of a suspension of more than five games. But even if the hearing is over the phone, Washington still faces the possibility of losing their first-line center for a crucial playoff game.
Meanwhile, Dale Hunter had his own complaints about hits to the head.
#Caps Hunter on if he thinks the #Bruins are targeting Backstrom's head "Oh yeah"
— Sky Kerstein (@SkyKerstein) April 17, 2012
#Caps Hunter says Backstrom "He's protecting his head, he just came off of 40 games. You have to protect your head."
— Sky Kerstein (@SkyKerstein) April 17, 2012
So, to review, we have both coaches complaining to the media about hits to the head. We have players calling each other crybabies, and we have the same players apologizing for innocuous-looking elbows.
Yup, it's the Stanley Cup playoffs, all right.
We'll have plenty more on these games and the rest of the 2012 NHL Playoffs on SB Nation D.C., so keep it locked to this StoryStream for all the latest news and updates. For more news, analysis, and discussion on Capitals hockey, please head over to Japers' Rink. For the opponent's perspective all series, check out Stanley Cup of Chowder. You can also head over to the SB Nation NHL hub page for more on hockey news as the playoffs begin.