Frustration hit a peak for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as they faced off and lost to their Metropolitan Division rivals, the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.
It got off to a nasty start, with Tom Wilson and Zack Sill dropping the gloves midway through the first period.
Tempers boiled over late in the third period, as Alex Ovechkin was called for a hold on Penguins defenseman Christian Ehrhoff after a collision along the boards. Ehrhoff was injured on the play, left the game and didn’t return. The hit, upon replay, appeared perfectly legal -- just Ovechkin using his strength along the boards.
A melee ensued between players on both teams near the Penguins bench, with Ovechkin right in the middle of it.
#Pens Coach Johnston had no update on Christian Ehrhoff following the game.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 29, 2015
Ovechkin scored twice (watch here and here) and now leads the NHL in goals with 29. The Capitals were thorough in their victory over the Penguins, defeating them by a final score of 4-0.
The Capitals held a 2-0 lead heading into the third period, but the floodgates opened in the third, on goals from Eric Fehr and Mike Green.