Fansided

NHL suspends Jonathan Toews, Alex Ovechkin for skipping All-Star game

ByMatt Verderame|
May 2, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 3 - 2. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 3 - 2. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL is suspending Jonathan Toews and Alex Ovechkin.

Some leagues don’t care about their All-Star games. The National Hockey League is not one of them. The NHL has suspended forwards Jonathan Toews and Alex Ovechkin of the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, respectively. Toews and Ovechkin are two of the great superstars in the league, and will be serving their suspensions on Feb. 2.

Perhaps for Toews and Ovechkin, this is just another ho-hum game that neither feel like playing in. The All-Star contest is in Nashville, Tenn., which is doing a very nice job in the lead-up to the game. However, Toews and Ovechkin would clearly rather relax and enjoy a few days off, something that can’t be sitting well with their respective clubs.

Washington can probably deal with it a bit better considering it has such a massive lead in the standings for the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. On the flip side, Chicago is fighting for a playoff berth. You have to give the NHL credit for making this game mandatory, instead of being the joke that the NFL Pro Bowl has become.

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