Washington Capitals’ center Nicklas Backstrom will not play in Game 2 of the Capitals first round series with the New York Islanders.
Nicklas Backstrom will not play in Game 2 vs Islanders, per Reirden.
“He is in protocol.”
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) August 13, 2020
Backstrom was levied a blind hit from Islanders’ captain Anders Lee in the first period of the Capitals 4-2 loss to the Islanders in Game 1 on Wednesday.
REPLAY
Here’s why they dropped the gloves … pic.twitter.com/CqaHE2D51P— Here’s Your Replay ⬇️ (@TheReplayGuy) August 12, 2020
Capitals’ head coach Todd Reirden called out Anders Lee for the hit. “It was a late hit on a player who wasn’t expecting it,” Reirden said, “It was predatory.”
John Carlson also voiced his displeasure with the hit in a postgame media session: “It looked real dirty to me,” he said.
After the game, Islanders head coach Barry Trotz had a different take on the hit.
“Anders is making a hockey play. I don’t know if Nick was ready or not. Anders is a strong guy, the hit was made and they responded, he and Wilson fought and that was probably the end of it. We’ll see.”
Trotz was asked about Todd Reirden calling the hit “predatory” following Islanders practice on Thursday.
#Isles Barry Trotz says no reaction to Todd Reirden calling Anders Lee’s hit on Nicklas Backstram “predatory.” Says Player Safety looked at it (no further discipline). Said Reirden is doing what a good coach would do, which is protecting his own players.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) August 13, 2020
Despite the appearance of the hit, the league will not be reviewing the play for possible supplemental discipline.
We would have heard from the league by now, but confirming there’s no supplemental discipline coming for Anders Lee for his Game 1 hit on Nick Backstrom.
No head contact, which is normally the @NHLPlayerSafety standard for a hearing on an interference penalty. #Isles
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) August 13, 2020
The Capitals and Islanders are set for Game 2 Friday night at 8:00 p.m.
By Jon Sorensen
