Hawks like Ovechkin's game, but recklessness? Not so much

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Blackhawks are ready to move on from Alex Ovechkin's hit on Brian Campbell.

While some Hawks felt Ovechkin's two-game suspension wasn't enough, they weren't ready to call the Washington Capitals star a dirty player.

"I think he's reckless," Adam Burish said. "I don't think he's dirty. I think he is definitely reckless and he's not always in control of what's going on. I have no problem playing that way, but you need to answer the consequences.

"Maybe you need to fight once in awhile. Maybe somebody needs to grab him and give it to him one time. I think if you're going to play that way you need to answer the bell."

Burish would have loved the chance to do just that Sunday, but Ovechkin was kicked out of the game.

"Am I disappointed I didn't get to or not? Sure, I would have loved to," Burish said. "I think the crowd would have loved it. Everyone would have loved it. It would have been fun.

"I love the way he plays. I think he's the best player in the league. I love watching him. I love playing against him, but if you're going to play that way you need to answer the bell and you need to expect that you're going to get suspended here and there."

Burish didn't like what Washington coach Bruce Boudreau had to say about Campbell being partly to blame for the incident happening.

"I don't think anybody is going to intentionally go into the boards headfirst or go in and try and break their collarbone," Burish said. "I think that's a stupid comment."

Patrick Sharp was happy to see the NHL at least gave Ovechkin some sort of suspension.

"In my opinion the guy (Campbell) was in a vulnerable position and it was a dangerous play," Sharp said. "I have nothing against Ovechkin. I'm a big fan and I love the way he plays the game, but I just think there's a time and place to play physical, and that wasn't it.

"It's tough to suspend the best player in the game, but it's nice to see they gave him something."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville, unlike Boudreau, took the high road.

"We've got to move on," Quenneville said. "That stuff is part of the game and something you have to deal with it. It can happen to you or it can happen the other way around. I think the league did what it felt it had to do.

"It was a dangerous hit and a dangerous play. That's where it's at."

If only the Capitals would just shut up about it. They lose Ovechkin for two games. Big deal. They're going to win the Eastern Conference anyway. The Hawks are without a top-four defenseman for at least 7-8 weeks.

Personally, I thought Ovechkin deserved at least double the two-game suspension. Now the Hawks must go about trying to replace Campbell, and it won't be easy.

Campbell has his critics among fans, but a lot of that has to do with his $7.1 million annual salary. The truth is Campbell is a key reason the Hawks play like they do. His speed on the back end and ability to skate the puck out of trouble is something than can't be replaced.

Campbell was having a terrific season - plus-18 with 31 points - but Ovechkin ruined that with one careless and disrespectful shove.

The maddening part is Ovechkin's attitude when it comes to the reckless way he plays and dishes out dangerous hits. It's never his fault.

tsassone@dailyherald.com