Reactions to Alex Ovechkin's Hit

It's probably a matter of perspective when discussing Alex Ovechkin's hit on Sergei Gonchar during Pittsburgh's 5-3 win on Friday night. The hit, which resulted in Gonchar leaving the game with an undisclosed injury, appeared as if it were a knee-on-knee hit, while the Capitals' superstar was issued a two-minute minor for tripping.

Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma would not offer any information regarding the severity of Gonchar's injury, but the tone of his voice and his facial expressions weren't exactly promising if you're the Penguins.

Gonchar already missed significant time this season due to a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason, while his loss would be a sizable blow to a power play unit that has already been inconsistent at its best this postseason.

"Yeah, it was probably knee on knee," said Ovechkin. "I tried to hit him with my shoulder and he just moved left into the same spot. I don't know what's going to happen. I wanted to hit him, but I don't want hurt him, especially knee on knee."

Meanwhile, on the Pittsburgh side...

Bylsma was asked if he would openly campaign or petition for the league to step in and suspend Ovechkin prior to Game 5 on Saturday night in Washington.

"We don't have to do anything," said Bylsma. "The league reviews all hits and all situations."

"We've all probably seen the replay, and I think it was knee cap on knee cap. The league reviews these things and they'll take care of it as they see fit."

Penguins defenseman Brook Oprik, who was involved in a highlight reel collision with Ovechkin on Wednesday night, also weighed in:

"I mean, you can run guys, and guys are fair game, but the guy takes strides every time and leaves his feet a lot of times,'' said Orpik. "To us, we got the feeling he's really trying to hurt guys at times.''

Aside from the incident involving Gonchar, it was a relatively quiet night for the Capitals dynamic forward, as Game 4 was the first time Ovechkin did not score a goal in this series, while the Penguins limited him to just two shots on goal -- an unheard of number for Ovechkin, who seemingly averages nine shots per game in his sleep.

"They get the last change and they did a good job," said Boudreau. "They were desperate down here. Alex is only human, he can't be unbelievable every night and if you take analogies of baseball players, they don't hit home runs all the time, they can go eight games and then they'll get three and everyone's back on the bandwagon. Alex is a good player ... he's a great player. He just had one of those nights where he's not going to get three goals."

The league won't have much time to review the incident, seeing as how the two teams square off in less than 24 hours in Washington. While it's extremely doubtful that the league will actually suspend Ovechkin for Game 5, it probably shouldn't be ruled out, seeing as how the NHL's wheel of discipline has been spinning wildly out of control for much of the postseason, deeming certain borderline hits suspension worthy, while seemingly overlooking others.

Alex Ovechkin Photos

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Eastern Conference All-Star Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals competes in the 'Scotiabank NHL Fan Fav Breakaway Challenge' during the Honda NHL Superskills competition as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

Dave Sandford, Getty Images

WASHINGTON - MARCH 27: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates his first period goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 27, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

WASHINGTON - MARCH 27: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals checks Matt Smaby #32 of the Tampa Bay Lightning into the boards during a NHL hockey game on March 27, 2009 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/NHLI via Getty Images)

Mitchell Layton, NHLI / Getty Images

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 21:Alexander Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates hard for position during a NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes on March 21, 2009 at RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

Gregg Forwerck, NHLI / Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - MARCH 12: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates in towards the crease against Danny Briere #48 and Martin Biron #43 of the Philadelphia Flyers on March 12, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Len Redkoles, NHLI / Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - MARCH 12: A young male fan holds up a sign for Alex Ovechkin during the pregame warm ups at a NHL game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals on March 12, 2009 at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

Len Redkoles, NHLI / Getty Images

BOSTON - FEBRUARY 28: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals during warm-up against the Boston Bruins at the TD Banknorth Garden on February 28, 2009 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Steve Babineau, NHLI / Getty Images

SUNRISE, FL - FEBRUARY 15: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals sits on the bench during a break in the action against the Florida Panthers at the Bank Atlantic Center on February 15, 2009 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Eliot J. Schechter, NHLI / Getty Images

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 03: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 3, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey. The Capitals defeated the Devils 5-2. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Jim McIsaac, Getty Images

MONTREAL - JANUARY 24: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates during the Honda NHL Superskills competition as part of the 2009 NHL All-Star weekend on January 24, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Mike Stobe, Getty Images