BOSTON — Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin was given a five-minute major penalty but was not ejected Saturday night for a hit that appeared to seriously injure Bruins defenseman Kevan Miller.
Ovechkin checked Miller hard into the boards from behind during the second period. The blueliner crumpled to the ice and quickly exited down the tunnel, appearing to clutch his right shoulder as he did so.
Bruins forwards Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron immediately accosted Ovechkin along the boards, and a brief scrum ensued. Once referees separated the teams, Ovechkin was slapped with a five-minute boarding major, and Marchand was handed a two-minute minor for roughing.
Miller has appeared in 58 of the Bruins’ 66 games this season, and his play has noticeably improved of late. A right shoulder injury limited him to 41 games last season and forced him to undergo season-ending surgery last February.
