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“The rules don’t apply for everyone,” rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes surprised at Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin’s hits to his teammates

“The rules don’t apply for everyone,” rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes surprised at Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin’s hits to his teammates

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 28, 2025, 14:37 IST

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Following their Game 3 loss against the Montreal Canadiens, marked by a strategic goaltender change, the Washington Capitals responded with aggressive plays in Game 4. Tom Wilson delivered a forceful hit on Alexandre Carrier, while Alex Ovechkin targeted Jake Evans. Wilson's hit on Carrier sparked debate among fans, with some questioning its legality and potential for a penalty.

“The rules don’t apply for everyone,” rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes surprised at Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin’s hits to his teammates

(Image via Getty: Tom Wilson)

Washington Capitals lost Game 3 against the Montreal Canadiens after the Canadiens made a crucial change in goaltender, bringing in rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes. Following this loss, the Capitals resorted to brutal hits in Game 4. Two notable hits from their captains. One from Tom Wilson, the ice hockey right winger and alternate team captain, and the other from Alex Ovechkin, the ice hockey left winger and team captain. Their hits were on Montreal Canadiens - Alexandre Carrier and Jake Evans, respectively.

The hits were so brutal that the Capitals overpowered the willpower of the Canadiens, and they scored 5-2 against them in Game 4 of Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jakub Dobes spoke about the hits at the post-game conference on April 28, “I felt like it should have been a whistle. It was kind of a scary hit, but I guess the rules don’t apply for everyone in this league.”

Mixed reactions for Alex Ovechkin’s brutal hit on Jake Evans during Game 4 of Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens

Montreal Canadiens center Jake Evans was trying to take possession of the puck from Washington Capitals center Pierre-Luc Dubois when Alex Ovechkin came straight at Evans and pushed him to the ice with a shoulder check. X users reacted to this hit with mixed reactions:
“Late, to the head, calls for 2 game suspension, BUT it’s Ovechkin and that’s not happening.”
“don't think that was intentional. Just looked like a collision”
“Clean hit. Keep your head up!”
“Based on that clip, it doesn’t look bad. Now show the clip from the reverse angle and play it at speed. He targets his head and makes contact with it as the principal point of contact.”
“Pretty sure he was trying to avoid him. If he wanted to hit him, Evans would be on a stretcher”

Mixed reactions for Tom Wilson’s brutal hit on Alexandre Carrier during Game 4 of Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens

Washington Capitals right winger Tom Wilson tried to stop 28-year-old defenseman Alexandre Carrier of the Montreal Canadiens by pushing him to the ice with his shoulder. The impact was so hard that Alexandre Carrier momentarily paused on the ice, trying to comprehend what had just happened to him. Users on X gave their valuable insights into this hit.
“Clear headshot!!!!! That should be 5 and a game!!! 🤦😒��”
“That was a hell of a hit. Daaaamnn”
“Hit to body so no problem there but…he went a long distance for that hit. Charging?”
“And no body has the guts to defend. SAD.”
“biggest b*tch in the league”
Also Read: “Holy f*ck there is a double standard”: Matthew Tkachuk receives no suspension for his brutal hit on Tampa Bay’s Jake Guentzel | NHL News - The Times of India

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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