Life Lessons From Two NHL Games
Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers. Two Games, Three Life Lessons.
Even if you’re not a hockey fan, there are two (three, actually) valuable lessons here, whether in sports, politics, or business. They emanate from a two-game set this week between the NHL's Washington Capitals (I am a 43-year fan) and the New York Rangers. I’m still a proud hockey dad.
The first game featured a controversial scrum involving the Caps' Tom Wilson and a couple of Rangers around the Caps' net. Scrums are violent by definition, and both the NHL media - mostly based in New York and close to the Rangers organization, it seems - and the entire Rangers organization screamed bloody murder that Wilson was fined $5,000 (the most allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement) and not suspended for his very physical reactions to being attacked on the ice for defending his goalie, including body-slamming one of the Rags' stars, Artemi Panarin. Caps won 6-3, eliminating the Rangers from playoff contention (the Caps, meanwhile, lead their division).
Meanwhile, Caps star TJ Oshie missed the game. He traveled home to Minnesota to be with his dying father. "Coach Osh" was well known and loved among the Caps dads, players, and organization. He suffered from Alzheimer's. Watching Oshie's dad lift the Stanley Cup in 2018 was an emotional highlight of their championship celebration 3 years ago.
Meanwhile, the Rangers channeled their inner Palpatine for 48 hours ("release your anger!"), including a damning statement slamming the NHL's player safety division for not suspending Wilson. Oddly, the Rangers owner fired their President and General Manager. Was it over their not making the playoffs, or this?
How did game two start? Intent on replaying the last game, the Rangers instigated 6 fights, including 3 or 4 at the first drop of the puck. One conservative writer I respect (or, did), David Harsanyi, tweeted that the Rangers should slash Caps star Nikolas Backstrom in the head since it would only cost $5,000. Umm, that was a pretty stupid suggestion (that would have ended someone's NHL career), but we've come to expect that from some Rangers fans, decrying alleged "violence" against one of their players while calling for season-ending injuries in response.
But the 141 penalty minutes weren't the story of the game.
The Caps instead chose to play a hockey game in honor of "Coach Osh." Oshie, the player, scored a hat trick, and the Caps won again, 4-2. An emotional win. If it makes the Rangers’ fans feel any better, Wilson left the game for an “upper-body” injury after the first period. The Caps may have just been protecting him since he was obviously targeted for retribution by the Rangers’ players. When the on-ice officials finally began to make Rangers’ pay with penalties for instigating fights and worse, they cleaned up their act.
Lessons: Don't replay the "last game." Learn, and move on. And don't overreact to official decisions or rulings you don't like. It reminds me of something former Senate Republican Leader, Trent Lott once said when asked what the “most important” vote was. “The next one,” he wisely replied.
How did the NHL brass respond to the Rangers' ill-advised statement? With a $250,000 fine against the organization. Goonish behavior might make for a funny cult classic sports movie ("Slapshot," 1977, starring Paul Newman), but it doesn't build a champion. And one of the Rangers involved in the first-game scrum, Pavel Buchnevich, was ejected from the game and has just been suspended 1 game for cross-checking a Caps player in the face. Worse, perhaps, he will forfeit over $28,017 in salary for his transgression.
The NHL brass does not look kindly upon checks to the head (just ask Tom Wilson, who has been suspended more than once for that, including one time for 14 games, reduced from 20 upon appeal). They also do not look kindly at being attacked by NHL teams over their rules and rulings.
A third lesson. Don’t do anything that will hurt your team. Too bad US Rep. Liz Cheney didn’t learn that lesson a few weeks ago. Tom Wilson, I think, has learned that lesson, even if he falls off the wagon now and then. Several Rangers apparently have yet to learn that.
Meanwhile, Tom Wilson continues to live rent-free inside the heads of about half the NHL while every GM in the league would love to have him on their roster.