NHL Playoffs 2012: Watch Alexander Ovechkin's Controversial Hit on Dan Girardi

Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin deserves to be suspended a game for his charge on New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi. Ovechkin left his feet and targeted the head of his opponent.

The controversial hit happened during the second period of Washington's 3-2 Game 4 victory on Saturday.

One issue I have with this play is that the puck was clearly gone from Girardi's reach when Ovechkin approached him. The Capitals forward could have played the puck but decided to leap at Girardi instead.

Ovechkin's shoulder clearly hits Girardi in the head, and when you consider that the Capitals forward is a repeat offender (He has been suspended three times before.), league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan must suspend him.

The New York Post's Larry Brooks summarized it nicely for us with this tweet:

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Ovechkin: a) leaves feet to deliver blow; b) hits Girardi in head; c) is repeat offender. Your move, Dep't of Player Safety.

— Larry Brooks(@NYP_Brooksie) May 5, 2012"

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In the regular season, given Ovechkin's history, this would probably be more than a one-game suspension. However, since it's the playoffs, Ovechkin should receive only a one-game ban.

Can we expect the NHL to do the right thing and suspend Ovechkin? Unfortunately, we cannot.

They didn't suspend Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber for slamming an opponent's head into the boards with an intent to injure, but they did give Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres a historic 25-game suspension for his brutal hit on Chicago Blackhawks star Marian Hossa.

Since Ovechkin is a star player and Girardi was able to play on after the hit, we won't be surprised if Brendan Shanahan and the league does not take action on Ovechkin, even though they should.

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Nicholas Goss is an NHL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Final in Boston.