A few days after being fined for a slashing incident, San Jose’s Joe Thornton was again at the centre of a borderline play Monday night.
With 3:26 left in the second period, Thornton hit a fallen T.J. Oshie in the corner. Because of Oshie’s positioning, Thornton’s behind hit Oshie in the head, causing the Capitals forward to leave the game. Oshie was not on the ice for Washington’s skate Tuesday morning and is doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Thornton did not receive a penalty on the play and didn’t face any immediate retribution either. But, when the teams returned to the ice in the third period, Thornton was challenged to a fight by the Capitals’ Tom Wilson just 2:14 into the final frame.
Head coach Peter DeBoer wasn’t happy that the Capitals waited and planned to get back at Thornton with their top fighter. It’s fair to say DeBoer didn’t believe the Caps followed “The Code.”
“If someone woulda grabbed Joe in the heat of the moment after the play because they thought a liberty was taken then I’ve got no problem with that,” said the Sharks coach. “But to go into the dressing room, think about it, come out in the first shift and do that premeditated crap is just garbage.”
Thornton, for his part, didn’t seem too upset with the way the Caps handled it.
“I can take care of myself so it’s never been an issue for me,” he said. “I’m a big boy. I can handle myself.”
A factor the league considers in supplemental discipline rulings is whether or not the player who was hit changed the positioning of his head immediately before or simultaneous to contact being made. Since Oshie fell into the boards just before Thornton came in for the check, the league may decide it’s not a targeted infraction.
According to Capitals reporter Isabelle Khurshudyan, the force of the hit also may not be up to a suspendable standard.
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