Por (Jason Harlow) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Eric,

Please keep us updated.. that innocent hit by Ov turned out to be a very very bad situation for Heward.

Por (KJ) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

On behalf of all Washington Capitals fans….

GET WELL SOON JAMIE HEWARD!!!!!

We liked you when you were here and we hope you will be OK!  You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Por (MaxHunter) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Yeah, that was a tough hit.  I feel bad for Ovi too.  You could tell he was a little upset.

Max

Por (kubinanut13) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Thank God this didn’t turn out as bad as it could have. A concussion is bad, but he could’ve suffered a very serious neck injury. 

Get well soon Heward - We’re keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!

Por (Bolt Fan) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Why was there no penalty when Heward was hit into the glass from behind with enough force to give him a concussion?  I guess if you are big enough star, you are immune from those kinds of calls, but if you are Arty and hit someone with a legitimate hard hit, you get a penalty.  Seems like a double standard in favor of the big names.

Can the league fine the Washington player next week, like they can in football?  Hopefully, he will get a $20,000 fine for the illegal hit.

Por (Steve B Henderson) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Not a dirty hit by Ovechkin. I was really concerned when Heward did not move at all after the hit. Lets hope it’s only a concussion and Jamie will be OK.

Por (Bolt Fan) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

When you hit someone from behind and drive them into the glass, particularly with that much force, would be the definition of boarding at the least.  It might have been a double minor since there was enough force to constitute intent to injure. 

In any case, it was far from innocent.

Por (Steve B Henderson) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Erik…..Please keep us updated. Thanks.

Por (Steve B Henderson) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Bolt Fan…With all due respect and myself being a big Bolts booster this is my take. It was not boarding. Heward was going in at about a 60 degree angle. Ovechkin hit him and just with the way Jamie hit the wall caused the injury. Not boarding or a hit from behind. To be boarding..you must take an extended run and the player. It is my honest belief, as shown by Oveshkin’s concern after, that is was an honest, aggresive hockey play with a bad outcome

Por (Brittany) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Best wishes to Jamie on a speedy recovery. I sure hope it looked much worse than it actually was. I think that was a bad hit by OV. People love his intensity, but there was no need for that. It doesn’t matter who you are, if you hit someone’s head into the glass you need to be given at least a penalty. If it had been Arty doing that, he would have a suspension before the game finished. No special treatment.

Smitty had a bad night tonight, I think he needs a game off here. He has played 7 or 8 games in a row and then 8 or 9 games in a row before this. Are we expecting him to be Brodeur in his first year as a starter?

Por (Bolt Fan) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Steve,

To do that much damage, Heward had to have been hit with signigicant force, such as would have been generated from a prolonged run at Heward.

I agree with Brittany.  If it had been Arty, he would have been given at least a double minor and a suspension for the same hit.

Yes, there is a double standard that favors the big stars who can do this kind of damage with impunity.

As for the “look” of dismay, have you ever seen a tennis match and the number of times that players say the are sorry for hitting the let cord?  They aren’t at all sorry.  It’s merely a formality.  Same with looking sorry after getting away with a dirty hit.

Por (Heward Fan) on January 01, 2009 (Suggest removal)

I just want to wish Jamie a speedy recovery! That slash to the face he took when he was a Cap scared me pretty bad, but this business with the backboard tonight about killed me! I can’t imagine what Mrs. Jamie was going through!! Jamie has long been my favorite player, and I hope to see him back on the ice really soon!

Por (A Solano) on January 02, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Our thoughts go out to your from Va Heward, wishing you a speedy recovery.

Por (Ted Smith) on January 02, 2009 (Suggest removal)

Hey
Ovechkin Can do whatever he wants, just read his Maxim article and pick your jaw off of the floor. He is arrogant and nasty, could care less about anyone but himself.I felt terrible as well when I saw that hit, but hockey is violent, very violent.I have noticed on numerous occasions of hits to the back with sticks that have not resulted in any penalty. Just be glad the Referee community is free of the Van Hellemond extortion era, and they can operate legitimately. Can you imagine if that crook still ran them, it would be worse.

Por (Kurt Cannon) on January 02, 2009 (Suggest removal)

I hope and believe that Jamie is going to be OK. As far as a cheap shot by OV, You folks are wrong. Nobody on the Bolts thought it was dirty or they would have gone after him. Tocchet even said it was not dirty. OV did not even hit him that hard, its just that it was a fluke. Ask Heward and he will tell you the same thing.