Saturday night the Rangers took on the Senators and turned the game into a boxing match. Well, one player did at least.
During the heated game, around 10:32 of the second period, New York Rangers forward Carl Hagelin let Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson have it. The forward threw Alfredsson into the wall and elbowed him in the head.
Alfredsson fell to the floor, clutching his head, and left the ice with a trainer never to return while Hagelin was sent to the penalty box for elbowing.
The move wasn’t enough to help out the Rangers who lost 3-2 in overtime and the hit wasn’t taken lightly by the NHL. Sunday afternoon, according to reports, Hagelin took part in a disciplinary hearing with NHL VP Brendan Shanahan to discuss the hit and was ultimately suspended for three games.
Hagelin, according to NY Times, spoke to reporters following the meeting but declined to discuss the meeting, only commenting on Alfredsson.
“I said that I am sorry and very regretful for what happened,” said Hagelin of texting the player after the game. Hagelin also said, “Obviously there was no intention on my part. I just hope he’s doing well and can play.”
The team will play again in Game 3 Monday night in Ottawa though it’s currently unknown if Alfredsson will play. He confirmed Monday that he suffered a concussion from the elbow but skated with his team Monday and passed the required baseline test.
He told reporters that he isn’t holding a grudge only that “it’s playoff hockey and if it needs to disciplined, the league will take care of that.”
Hagelin wasn’t the only player to get disciplined for his bad behavior on the ice Saturday. Senators defenseman Matt Carkner also had a hearing and was suspended one game for fighting.
A video of the beat down went viral later and has proved popular on the Internet with thousands of views since first being posted.
“Dirty headshot from New York Rangers forward Carl Hagelin on Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson in game 2 of the playoffs. Series tied 1-1 heading to Ottawa. This may lead to a suspension…,” reads one caption of the video.
Check it out. Do you think the three game suspension was necessary?
