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Capitals coach calls for NHL inquiry after loss to Blue Jackets

Greg Wyshynski
Getty Images
Getty Images

The Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Washington Capitals, 3-2, for their fourth straight win. They pulled two points in back of the Capitals for third in the division, and their power play – in a 1-for-16 funk, despite being first in the NHL – scored two goals, including the game-winner with 54 seconds left in regulation.

That should have been the takeaway from Sunday afternoon’s contest, but it ended with a bit of controversy over how the Blue Jackets earned that decisive power play in the third period.

Nick Foligno earned the call on Nicklas Backstrom after Backstrom’s stick went high and Foligno’s head snapped back. But upon further review … well, let’s just say Foligno earned his team a call:

Capitals coach Barry Trotz didn’t actually say the word “embellishment” after the game, but clearly felt the NHL will and should explore supplemental discipline against Foligno for the head-fake.

“I hope the League looks at that. I mean, if you look at that … if you see the replay, he doesn’t really touch him. And his head pops up when Backie’s stick is on the way down. That’s just a little bit disrespectful to the game,” said Trotz.

“The League will look at that, and we have fines for that. So I’m sure that will be something that they took advantage of. It’s something I wouldn’t be too happy about if I were a referee.”

Embellishment is a tricky subject in the NHL.

You have the camp that sees it as a totally disrespectful act, worth of discipline from the League or else the game becomes a community theater version of international soccer. And then you have the camp that knows it’s sneaky and unbecoming of hockey, but in the end a tactic to get power plays, like the one that won the game for the Blue Jackets – and something that, despite their protests, every team and player does once in a while.

Glass houses, Mr. Trotz…

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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