On Tuesday night, the Washington Capitals squandered a 3-1 lead and came away with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets. One play that will be talked about wasn’t from a goal but rather a slash. A slash that came late in the third period with 1:17 to go in the game. Dustin Byfuglien was the perpetrator while the victim was Jay Beagle.
As the Jets pulled their goalie, the Capitals came down the ice looking to seal the game with an empty net goal. As Beagle had the puck along the boards at center ice, Byfuglien swung his stick and hit Beagle in the ribs. Beagle came down in pain and was kneeling down by the time he headed to the bench.
Byfuglien went to the penalty box for two minutes for the slash as the Capitals ended the third period and began overtime on the power play. That slash by Byfuglien might have determined the entire course of the game. Had that not happened, there is a strong chance that Beagle’s pass to T.J. Oshie would’ve been right on the money and Oshie would’ve sealed it with an empty net goal. Instead, Winnipeg would come back and tie the game with 15 seconds left and won the game in overtime.
It is unclear at this time whether the league will look at this play and if Byfuglien will face a fine or suspension as a result. Barry Trotz told Isabelle Khurshudyan of The Washington Post that he doesn’t have an update yet on Beagle’s status.
Trotz was obviously not happy with Byfuglien’s whacks on Beagle. Said the second slash was “not a hockey play.” Trotz said he doesn’t have an update on Beagle’s health yet.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 14, 2018
“I thought the penalty was warranted on the first slash for two minutes. The referee’s arm went up and the second slash on Beagle, that was not a hockey play. There was no intention of getting the puck, he was already by him and at that point we probably should’ve put it in the empty net,” said Trotz.
The Caps are off tomorrow and there’s no telling yet as to when the team will provide an update on Beagle, but we should learn more in the next day or so.
Update: the NHL Department of Player Safety fined Dustin Byfuglien $5,000 on Tuesday afternoon.
Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for slashing Washington’s Jay Beagle.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) February 14, 2018
The Capitals also said that Jay Beagle is day-to-day and they’ll see how he feels at tomorrow’s morning skate. That will determine his status for the game that night in Minnesota.
Jay Beagle is day to day. Caps will see how he feels tomorrow and that’ll determine his status for the game.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) February 14, 2018
By Michael Marzzacco
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