Alexander Ovechkin avoided a suspension for slew-footing Thrashers' forward Rich Peverley on Thursday but, according to NHL.com, he was slapped with an undisclosed fine.
The Washington Capitals sniper was assessed a minor penalty for tripping on the play.
On Thursday, Anaheim's Evgeni Artyukhin was suspended three games for slew-footing Dallas Stars' defenceman Matt Niskanen.
However, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell explained the difference in severity of the consequences by citing Artyukhin's status as a repeat offender.
"It is unfair to draw any parallels [about the two slew-foot incidents] other than the players that [Ovechkin and Artyukhin] tripped both fell down," Campbell told NHL.com. "Artyukhin was suspended [for two games] last season for a kneeing incident in which a player was injured. He was also fined during this preseason for slew-footing a player who didn't have the puck. Fast forward three weeks, he, in our opinion, did slew-foot Matt Niskanen, causing Niskanen's skates to fly up well above the boards and half up the glass. It resulted in an injury for Niskanen and he has missed one game so far."
Campbell added that Ovechkin is not considered a repeat offender, Peverley was not injured on the play and the incident took place late in a game that was not out of reach.
"We categorize that as a hockey play, but it is dangerous and that is why we fined him," explained Campbell. "And we still don't like either play."
