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Jakob Chychrun delivers hockey hit of the year on Nick Cousins in chilling sight: ‘Not doing great’
Washington Capitals defenceman Jakob Chychrun hit Ottawa Senators centre Nick Cousins late in a 2-2 game, sending him into the boards and leaving him motionless on the ice. Cousins left the game, and Senators coach Travis Green said he was “not doing great”; the incident drew concern from teammates and affected Ottawa as Washington went on to win in overtime.
The hit came with about three minutes remaining in regulation. Officials initially assessed a five-minute major penalty but rescinded it after a review, leaving Green surprised. Washington won 3-2 with a goal 1 minute 14 seconds into overtime, improving its record to 10-6; Cousins avoided a hospital visit.
In short
- Cousins was injured after Chychrun’s late hit into the boards.
- Officials rescinded an initial five-minute major after review.
- Washington beat Ottawa 3-2 with an overtime goal.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A late, forceful hit can be defended as part of hockey when it is aimed at a player in possession of the puck and delivered within the rules; physical play can create turnovers and is a recognised part of the sport. The officials reviewed the incident and rescinded the major penalty, which supports the view that the contact did not meet the standard for that call, though it does not settle every question about its timing or safety.
The case against
A hit that leaves an opponent motionless raises serious concerns about whether the force and timing were necessary, especially late in a close game when players may be vulnerable. Even if officials judged it did not warrant a major penalty, the injury and its effect on Cousins and his team support calls for stricter scrutiny of dangerous contact and stronger emphasis on player safety.