Sidney Crosby ragdolls Ryan McDonagh in response to the Ranger captain’s hit from behind on Connor Sheary. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Yahoo

During last night’s game, Ryan McDonagh shoved Connor Sheary from behind boarding him for a major penalty. Sheary’s teammate and captain Sidney Crosby had a strong response jumping McDonagh right away before his teammates and the refs came in.

In the video below, we get a clear view of McDonagh catching Sheary in a prone position a couple of feet from the boards. He gives him a shove sending Sheary down. Crosby does the right thing going after McDonagh. Even though I wish he would’ve challenged McDonagh, I understand why he did what he did.

Let me put it this way. If it were Mark Messier, what do you think he would’ve done? He got away with plenty of elbows and other stuff when he starred for the Rangers. One other thing. The Captain was Canadian. So is Crosby. Both are ornery. Crosby obviously supremely skilled. Messier was too but played more of a power forward game intimidating opponents while leading by example. Honestly, they’re not all that different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHBxjTTL-Ys

Afterwards, here were both McDonagh and Crosby on what happened.

“It was a big hit. [Crosby] is standing up for his team. Anyone on our team would do the same,” McDonagh told Sean Hartnett.

Here was Crosby’s response: