Nick Cousins’ hit was very unfortunate, but it wasn’t dirty

Tuesday night’s matchup between the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals featured one of the most devastating hits in the NHL this season. Like it or not, bone-crushing hits are part of this level of hockey, but when a significant injury is the result, it can blur the line between player safety and a hockey play. Last night’s devastating hit left winger Nick Cousins motionless on the ice, and Senators fans, teammates, and coaching staff held their breath. 

With just under three minutes remaining in a tight 2-2 game between two Eastern Conference teams, former Senators defenceman Jakob Chychrun delivered a thunderous hit on Cousins, sending him into the boards and glass before he fell face-first to the ice. Immediately after the hit, Cousins was still and was promptly attended to by the medical staff. After a few moments (which felt like forever), Cousins required assistance leaving the ice and did not return. He was seen being helped toward the Senators’ tunnel, with a towel applied to a cut he suffered in the injury. 

The outcome was heartbreaking, but we need to make one thing clear: it was a massive hit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was a dirty hit. 

Reviewing the footage and the decision by referees Brandon Blandina and Beau Halkidis, it appears Chychrun’s shoulder made initial contact with Cousins’ chest, not his head. There may have been incidental head contact, but if so, the head wasn’t the primary point of contact. Chychrun is a big-bodied, fast skater who can apply significant force on a hit into the boards. 

Could it have been a charging penalty? This has some grey area, given Chychrun’s skating and the lead-up to the hit. In the replay, you can see Chychrun slow down slightly before the check, rather than hit Cousins at full speed. 

Unfortunately, even a clean hit can have awful consequences, and this was a prime example. 

Where was Ottawa’s response?

Whenever a teammate is lying unconscious on the ice, especially a locker-room glue guy like Cousins, it should naturally spark some raw emotions. While nobody needed to drop the gloves, sticking up for a player who consistently gets under opponents’ skin and stands up for his teammates was probably warranted. 

In a 2-2 game, retaliating against Chychrun with a fight could have resulted in a costly instigator penalty, potentially handing the Capitals the win in regulation on a silver platter. 

But the response doesn’t always have to be a fight. It could be big hits in the dying minutes of the third period, on-ice chirps, passion and fired-up plays, or doing everything it takes to win the game for the Belleville native.

There is a fine line between standing up for a teammate and maintaining discipline and composure with a game on the line. The Senators could have shown more emotion in the final minutes of the third period and overtime, but not going after Chychrun wasn’t necessarily the wrong call. Sometimes, the best decision is the hardest and possibly most controversial one to make.

Head coach Travis Green announced today that Cousins will be out a week or two.

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