Bruins forward Trent Frederic managed to get under the skin of Capitals star Alex Ovechkin Wednesday night, and Ovechkin responded by spearing Frederic below the belt.
The incident came with 5:30 left in the third period of what would ultimately be a 2-1 shootout win for Washington. Frederic had challenged Ovechkin to a fight earlier in the period, but Ovechkin didn't take the bait. Then when they got into it again, Ovechkin got his stick between Frederic's leg and forcefully jammed it up into his groin.
The two received matching minor penalties at the time -- Frederic for crosschecking, Ovechkin for slashing -- but Ovechkin has now received some extra discipline as well. The NHL Department of Player Safety announced Thursday morning that Ovechkin has been fined $5,000 for spearing Frederic, the maximum amount allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.
The 23-year-old Frederic has made a name for himself this season by agitating and provoking opponents while rarely crossing the line himself. He has also shown a willingness to drop the gloves with just about anyone, including Capitals tough guy Tom Wilson earlier this season.
His efforts, including the painful drawn penalty on Ovechkin Wednesday night, have been appreciated by his coach and teammates.
“He’s come into the league and decided he’s gonna be an agitator to a certain extent, but keep his discipline so it’s not putting us at a disadvantage,” said coach Bruce Cassidy after Wednesday's game. “I think he’s done a good job with it. … We like that out of him. It’s a little bit of abrasiveness. It’s still welcome in the game. He can continue to bring it as long as he doesn’t get off his game.”
“I think he’s been doing a great job so far,” Brad Marchand said. “He’s in people’s faces every single game. He’s tough, plays physical. … I think he’s been doing a great job. He’s really come in, earned his spot. He competes hard every day. He’s a great kid in the room. Brings a lot of energy. So I think for him, he wants to toe the line, but he’s been really good at that. He doesn’t seem to cross it very much. He’s just learning the game, and he’s been doing a great job so far.”