Sources tell TSN Pittsburgh defenceman Sergei Gonchar suffered an apparent knee injury and will miss the next several weeks, perhaps the remainder of the season.
Gonchar was injured following a knee-on-knee collision with Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, who received a minor penalty on the play.
During a Washington power play in the first period of Game 4, Gonchar skated out from behind the Pittsburgh net and Ovechkin appeared to stick out his right knee a moment before the two collided. The Penguins defenceman was unable to put any weight on his right leg and was helped off the ice.
The National Hockey League has ruled out the notion of supplemental discipline which has prompted reaction from Gonchar's representative, JP Barry.
''We now have Exhibit A of the extreme double-standard that exists in the NHL's approach to discipline. Alex clearly cuts back with his knee after missing his check with devastating results. But of course, because it's Alex, its all Sergei's fault,'' Barry told TSN.
''It was a extremely negligent hit and if anyone else in this league does the same we all know they will face serious discipline,'' Barry continued. ''Part of being 'great' means playing with respect. He is wreckless and this isn't the first or last time he will get a free pass from the NHL, and the best part is he knows it.''
I sure hope this isn't true, and no Ovechkin didn't lead in with his shoulder.
Either way the guy is wreckless. This isn't cool. I heard that Dan Blysma said Gonchar is now a GTD (Game Time Decision) so does that mean his injury may not be that serious or is Gonchar going to play through the injury? Either way, not good. Everyone knows that Gonchar is the Pens Achilles heel.
He gets that first pass out. He's our best rush dman, and he has one heavy shot, thus why he is such an important cog to our powerplay. The Pens were 18-6-4 with him in the lineup, and barely were above .500 with him on the IR. We need Gonchar to beat the Caps and hopefully go much deeper into the playoffs.
