AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
Saturday’s Capitals-Rangers game was nothing out of the ordinary for the two teams when they do battle. Plenty of hitting, penalties and assorted unpleasantries were prevent right from the opening faceoff. The first period also feature a controversial hit by Capitals forward T.J. Oshie.
The play in question happened in the first period of Saturday’s Capitals-Rangers matinee. Oshie levied a hit on Rangers defensem an Ryan Lindgren, who fell awkwardly into the boards and then down to the ice.
Lindgren’s hurt and off to the locker room after this hit from Oshie – no call on the play pic.twitter.com/QAwie8iPdk
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) February 25, 2023
Lindgren would leave the game and not return. After the game Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant said there was no update on Lindgren. “Day-to-day. You’ll know more tomorrow.”
Gallant also provided his thoughts on the hit. He said he likes Oshie, but “bad hit, dirty hit. He’s got no chance to protect himself. I’m disappointed it wasn’t a five-minute major. For me, it’s a cheap hit.”
Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said no update on Ryan Lindgren yet.
“Day to day. You’ll know more tomorrow.”
Of Oshie,, he said he likes Oshie, but “bad hit, dirty hit. He’s got no chance to protect himself. I’m disappointed it wasn’t a 5-minute major. For me, it’s a cheap hit.”
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) February 25, 2023
Today’s loss against the Capitals is the Rangers’ fourth consecutive defeat. Despite the thrashing in D.C., Gallant’s team is on the schedule tomorrow, taking on the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden, and like the Caps, who ended a six-game skid, the veteran bench boss hopes his squad will come out in a similar fashion.
“When you get your asses kicked like we did today, hopefully you’ll come back tomorrow and be ready to go real hard. Sometimes that’s a good thing.”
Capitals Head Coach Peter Laviolette also shared his thoughts on Oshie’s play. “His physicality, his offense, you could see it in his strides and in his purpose on the ice. He was really good”, said the Washington bench boss.
Lindgren is the brother of Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who was the backup for starter Darcy Kuemper in the Caps’ victory over New York.
By Jon Sorensen