Jakob Chychrun may not be one of the Capitals’ most notorious hitters, but he doled out a momentum-changing hit in Tuesday’s game against the Ottawa Senators
With just over three minutes left in regulation, Chychrun trucked Senators forward Nick Cousins as he tried to collect the puck along the boards.
Jakob Chychrun’s hit on Nick Cousins
The hit appeared to immediately knock out Cousins, whose body hit the glass before crashing onto the ice. He remained down while receiving medical attention.
Cousins needed help from several teammates to get off the ice, still visibly woozy, while a member of Ottawa’s medical staff worked to stem the bleeding from his face. He did not return to the game.
Officials initially assessed Chychrun a five-minute major for the hit. Upon further review, however, they ruled there was no penalty on the play, much to the dismay of Senators fans.
Chychrun played two seasons for the Senators before they traded him to the Capitals in 2024, though his tenure did not overlap with Cousins’.
Senators head coach Travis Green later offered an update on Cousins’ status.
“He’s not doing great,” Green said postgame.
Green also disputed the officials’ decision not to award Ottawa a power play.
“You don’t usually see it where it goes from a major to no penalty, but I thought it was a head shot to a player that wasn’t ready for it,” he said, “They must have saw it different.”
Senators players weren’t any more thrilled with the hit.
“I should be careful what I say,” said forward Ridly Greig. “I don’t like seeing that stuff.”
“I think everybody hates these scenes in hockey, any sport,” added Thomas Chabot. “Obviously you’re aware it’s part of the game, but it’s a lot more than the game of hockey and it sucks seeing him like that.”
Hayden Hodgson praised Cousins as a teammate, noting how the hit rattled the bench.
“He’s a heart-and-soul guy, he’s an unbelievable teammate, and it just took the life out of us,” he said. “It sucks to see.”
With the game still at five-on-five, Fabian Zetterlund went to the box late in the period for sending the puck over the glass, putting the Capitals on the power play. Cole Hutson scored the overtime game-winning goal just seconds after Zetterlund’s penalty expired.
Chychrun’s hit comes three days after teammate Tom Wilson injured forward Sandis Vilmanis in Saturday’s game against the Florida Panthers. Wilson was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct, sending him to the showers early, but did not face supplemental discipline.