ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Capitals coach Dale Hunter says the Boston Bruins are going after the head of Washington center Nicklas Backstrom, who missed half the regular season because of a concussion.
Says Hunter: "It is crossing the line. To grab his head all the time is not the right way to play."
Asked Tuesday, an off day in the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, whether he thinks the Bruins are targeting Backstrom's head, Hunter replied: "Oh, yeah."
Hunter expects the NHL to overturn the game misconduct penalty Backstrom got for putting his stick in the face of Rich Peverley at the end of Boston's 4-3 victory in Game 3 on Monday. Hunter says Backstrom "was trying to protect his face," because Peverley had his stick raised.
Game 4 is Thursday. Boston leads 2-1.
