Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery was “confused” as to why Rangers forward Artemi Panarin wasn’t penalized for his big hit on T.J. Oshie that forced the Caps forward out of their Game 2 loss to the Blueshirts in their first-round playoff series.
Panarin appeared to catch Oshie high as he was going in for a check midway through the third period, and the latter was removed from the game after a concussion spotter made the call.
“They said it wasn’t a minor penalty was the only explanation I got. I asked a few follow-up questions with regards to leaving feet, point of contact, and the one thing that’s tricky is the spotter removes him,” Carbery told reporters after the game. “We watch a video at the beginning of the year of what they’re looking for for concussion symptoms or a hit and who needs to be removed. To me, when the spotter removes him, there has to be some kind of contact with the head.
“So that’s where I was a little bit confused on him being removed by the spotters and then no minor penalty on the ice.”
The Rangers star seemed to catch Oshie’s head with his back and shoulder during the hit, sending him to the ice.
A Capitals athletic trainer came out to look at Oshie as officials reviewed what happened.
In the immediate aftermath, forward Connor McMichael came to Oshie’s defense and went after Panarin in retaliation.
When all was said and done McMichael was the only one that had ended up being penalized during the sequence, resulting in a Rangers power play, and Oshie was pulled out of the game by the concussion spotter.
Tom Wilson — a player with a history of antics and physical play (notably against the Rangers in 2021) — seemed to take issue with the fact that Oshie was in a vulnerable spot when Panarin came in for the hit.
“It’s one of those things that looks like he’s going after him a little bit,” explained Wilson, who acknowledged he didn’t see the hit live, according to The Hockey News. “Osh is in a vulnerable spot and he gets him high. I don’t know if he gets him in the head; I haven’t watched it. It’s one of those things where everybody stands up, you know, he definitely went after him. So that’s playoff hockey and you’re gonna get hit, you’re gonna give his. I think Osh is OK, so that’s the main thing.”
The Rangers took Game 2, 4-3, and took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Things will shift to Washington, D.C., where the Caps and Rangers will play Game 3 on Friday at Capital One Arena.