Posted by Scott Burnside
PITTSBURGH -- The Penguins thought Matt Cooke was picked by a Capitals player during a power play that led to a crucial Washington goal in Game 2. Needless to say, Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau had a different take on it.
"I agree there was a lot of interference, but most of it was done by them," Boudreau said. "I mean, it's so funny. It really is. When we were pre-scouting these guys, one of the things we were talking about is how many picks that Matt Cooke throws everywhere. I know he's whining about the last goal, but if you look, every faceoff they won, he interfered with our guy going to the net. It's jockeying and whining. Enough."
More on the psychological-warfare front. There has been some suggestion that Alex Ovechkin has been playing with an illegal stick. Or maybe it's that the idea was floated to make Ovechkin nervous. Whatever. Ovechkin didn't shed much light on the issue when asked about it Wednesday morning. "I didn't know about this," he said.
No suspension?
Boudreau said he was disappointed the league didn't suspend Chris Kunitz for his crosscheck on rookie netminder Simeon Varlamov. Kunitz was instead assessed a $2,500 fine.
"It's the league's decision. We thought it should have been more, but you know, we're not going to lose sleep over it," Boudreau said.
Among the Caps' concerns is that they lost forward Donald Brashear to a six-game suspension in the first round for a pair of transgressions, including a hit to the Rangers' Blair Betts that left Betts out of action for the rest of that series.
"They're different plays," Kunitz said Wednesday. "I can't change how [the fine] comes, but you've got to go out there and you've got to do your job still."
What did league officials tell Kunitz?
"Just that they were cracking down on hits to the head and things," he said.
There is also the issue of hits late in games or "message" hits, as some call them.
"I told my kind of story that it wasn't that type of event, you weren't going out to send a message or anything, you were going to the net, we're on a power play trying to get the pucks to go in the net, and unfortunately put the stick too high, too close to the goalie," Kunitz explained.
Ovechkin had been pointed in his comments about the hit, saying Kunitz should have been suspended, but said Wednesday the matter was finished.
"What can I say about it? I guess nothing. It's the NHL's call and the refs' call," Ovechkin said. "It's done. That was the last game. Now, it's a different game."
Last word on lineups
On the injury front, Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang will be a game-time decision, as will Washington defenseman John Erskine. Caps forward Eric Fehr is "questionable," and Michael Nylander likely will play in his place if Fehr can't go.
ESPN.com Stanley Cup playoffs blog
