Screengrab via @TFGot.

In the Capitals thrilling 4-3 overtime-victory against division rival Carolina, there were several bigs hits of note. Nicklas Backstrom rocked Jiri Tlusty’s world with a fantastic counter-hit and Alex Semin decked Hurricanes Bryan Allen at the end of regulation.

While Backstrom’s hit was totally clean (shoulder to chest), Sasha Minor’s hit was borderline dirty and 2,000 percent unnecessary. Don’t believe me? Check out the video.

Semin slashes then throws his shoulder into a defenseless Allen from behind and knocks him towards the glass head-first with no time left on the clock. “I was going to shoulder to shoulder,” Semin explained to The Washington Post. “But he was very far from the boards.” While Allen was fortunately not hurt on the play and Semin was only given a two-minute minor for boarding, the check was reckless and could end up being reviewed by NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan.

Sasha, who sometimes plays with a bit of an edge when frustrated, has actually had the NHL wag their finger at him once before. Last year during the Capitals eight-game losing streak, Semin lost his cool after being cross-checked by John Michael-Liles and took justice into his own hands.

Ouch. Semin was fined by Colin Campbell but not suspended.

Regardless of what discipline may or may not be handed down by the NHL, Semin may have already endured his fair share of retribution. During the resulting melee in the corner, one of the many necklaces he wears during games was ripped off his neck.

Semin wasn’t too happy about it either. “He broke my chain on purpose, I think,” he told Slava Malamud in a Russian interview after the game, referring to ’Canes defenseman Tim Gleason.

At least we know one thing for sure: Sasha certainly cares about his jewelry. (Sorry, I had to.)

Photos

Screengrabs via @TFGot

Fantastic photos taken by @jlrpuck from her seats in Section 117.