CHICAGO -- NHL scoring leader Alex Ovechkin was tossed out of the Capitals' game against the Blackhawks after receiving a five-minute major and a game misconduct in the first period for driving Chicago's Brian Campbell into the boards from behind.
Ovechkin raced up the ice and knocked Campbell into the boards behind the net at 7:44 of the opening period on Sunday.
Campbell stayed down for several minutes before he was able to leave the ice with a trainer at his side and head to the locker-room.
Ovechkin first went to the penalty box and then skated across the ice and into the locker-room.
TSN has learned that despite this being Ovechkin's third game misconduct this season, he will not be automically suspended for that reason because the penalties were not assessed for the same infraction. His last game misconduct was handed out for a knee-on-knee hit on Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Also, he has been cleared for his last game misconduct for boarding because it was assessed more than 41 games ago.
