Ovechkin fined for hit on Briere

I stated Sunday morning that I thought Alexander Ovechkin's hit on the Sabre's Daniel Briere, although warranting a penalty (because it was boarding), did not deserve additional action by the league. Well the league decided it deserved a $1000 fine. That kinda confuses me.

First thing, $1000 really is nothing. It seems like it's only meant to appease the Sabres while at the same time not be rediculously unreasonable. But it really makes no sense. The way I see it, the league should either say it was a "dirty" hit (i.e. a hit that intended to injure) and fine AND suspend him or you say it was an illegal but "clean" hit (i.e. warranting a penalty but not intended to hurt).

Ovechkin even says the league recognized that it wasn't a dirty hit... so what's the deal? If it's not dirty why fine him? The league certainly doesn't fine EVERY player who gets called for boarding, charging, or crosschecking (all penalties which could be considered "dirty" by the team taking the penalty). So what was so special about this hit?

If you watch the video you'll see that Ovechkin picks up a lot of speed and chases Briere out of the Caps defensive zone. Right after Briere dumps the puck, Ovechkin turn to check Briere (an entirely legal check since Briere just had possession of the puck). Right after Ovechkin turns Briere heads to the bench (turning his back to Ovechkin), and Ovechkin hits him with his shoulder in the back. Just a normal shoulder check, no charging, no follow through... simply nothing which someone could reasonably consider dirty.


Granted, I'ld be pissed if this had happened to a Cap, but I'ld have to be reasonable about it, all things considered. It was an unfortunate sequence, but I just don't see what the league expects Ovechkin to do if presented with the same situation. So the league fines Ovechkin a meager $1,000, and the Sabres are still going to retaliate in their next game. I just hope the fine for retaliation is much more than $1k...