Crossing the line from time to time comes with the territory of being a physical player with gifted size and intensity like Ovechkin. That doesn't make him dirty. Although, I can't even remember the last time he crossed the line.
That's the kind of stuff where you can shrug your shoulders and say "that's just hockey".
Last controversial Ovi hit was March 6th against Boston, a boarding call against Kevan Miller which injured Miller and got Ovi a major. Quick google search comes up with two youtube compilations.
That sentiment doesn't seem applicable to real life. Shrugging shoulders and saying, it's a hockey play can, but shouldn't, fit the Bellemare hit. Looks like Orlov started to fall into the walls, and it didn't look like Bellemare finished a check. I thought he tried to avoid the contact, and slowed down to lessen the contact. But it was a bad play, and resulted in a penalty. That territory either should, or shouldn't be in the game, but it should not be excluded for some, and allowable for others.
Ovi is dirty like Neal, but both are way too good of players to be mentioned with Cooke, just their usage and place in the game makes the comparison not as applicable.
Ovi and Wilson are birds of similar feathers. Both play the game, oh so close to the edge, and neither have been suspended (recently) so they're not seen as dirty. If one of these questionable hits gets a suspension, then they will be seen as dirty. As Gudas is a similar player, but having been suspended, is mislabeled a good and dirty, he plays a mirror type game to Wilson, who is just a tough guy because never suspended.
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