Pageau on questionable Ovechkin hit: «He knew what he was doing»
In a game on Monday between the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals, Jean-Gabriel Pageau was slow to get to his feet after taking a punishing body check from Alex Ovechkin.
The hit prompted plenty of debate online, with some defending the Capitals captain while others suggested hits of similar nature don't belong in the game. Consider Pageau part of the second group, as he was quite frustrated with Ovechkin following the check, and let it be known when speaking with media postgame.
"I was trying to make my play and clear the puck and he finished his hit, obviously,» Pageau said. "I'll tell you he took a couple of strides to come in and he's been around for a while, so he knew what he was doing. It is what it is.
Obviously, when you look at the replay, I don't think I like it. It's part of this game, he's scoring goals, he's finishing hits and it's just another hit for him and he's been known to hit guys hard and he hit me hard and it's part of the game."
Obviously, when you look at the replay, I don't think I like it. It's part of this game, he's scoring goals, he's finishing hits and it's just another hit for him and he's been known to hit guys hard and he hit me hard and it's part of the game."
Pageau certainly isn't wrong in suggesting that Ovechkin is known for hitting opposing players hard, but there haven't been many in the past that have suggested he is a dirty player. While debate continues to swirl on whether the hit was dirty, the referees clearly didn't think so, as they gathered together to discuss the hit before choosing not to call a penalty on the play.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 18 | 295 ANSWERS Pageau on questionable Ovechkin hit: «He knew what he was doing» Was Ovechkin's hit on Pageau a dirty play in your eyes? | ||
| Yes | 115 | 39 % |
| No | 130 | 44.1 % |
| See results | 50 | 16.9 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
MUST READ
TRENDING NOW
|
LIVE
APRIL 26, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Bowen Byram | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Josh Doan | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Peyton Krebs | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Nathan MacKinnon | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Alex Tuch | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Gabriel Landeskog | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Joel Edmundson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Sean Kuraly | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Cale Makar | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Beck Malenstyn | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Nicolas Roy | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Devon Toews | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Greenway | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Nazem Kadri | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Adrian Kempe | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Tyson Kozak | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Alex Laferriere | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Artturi Lehkonen | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Sam Malinski | - | 1 | 1 | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||