I haven't really watched any playoff hockey since 2011 so I have a fresh set of eyes. I have NEVER seen so much spearing in the NHL. Yea, the dirty players that everybody hated would do it, but not the entire team. Weird. I hope Bettman saw it up close and personal while at the game.
As far as the Svechnikov fight, yea Ovechkin lost his composure and did go too far. With one hand on the jersey and the other throwing another punch, then letting his head bang the ice. Once again, this is the mindset, take someone out by any means. I think the spearing adds to a mindset which breeds more escalation to other dirty plays. Hell, some of the fights have them hitting the refs, breaking up the fight, in the face. Wow.
Orpik is garbage,even worse than before, as is Oshie. Time to line one of them up, maybe Backstrom, with a Carolina team body check crunch. Someone is going down.
Bottom line is NHL has gone back to stick and elbow trash, even worse the before the 2005 lockout. Ugly and dangerous. Can't get rid of fighting when someone is intentionally trying to injure you. Fighting will come back.