Joel Ward - An up and down playoff

Joel Ward will be fine.

He handled the racist tweets that were fired in his direction after eliminating Boston in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

And he will bounce back after taking a careless penalty that cost his team from going up 3-2 in the series against the New York Rangers.

Full disclosure here: I've known Joel since 1997. He was the 260th overall pick of the Ontario Hockey League draft that season.

I was doing some work for the Owen Sound Platers at the time, and when the Platers announced they had picked Joel I figured there was NOOOOO way he would still be at a nearly empty Maple Leafs Gardens.

But moments after his name was called, here came this rather thin young man. He introduced himself and I couldn't believe he was still at the draft.

I gave him his shirt and cap and figured I would never see him again.

Wrong.

Ward has overcome several hurdles in his life: His father passing away when Joel was 11 years old forcing his mother working several jobs so Joel could stay in hockey.

So making the OHL as the longest of long shots was no surprise. The fact that played 4 years in the league and was a productive player was again no surprise.

It also came as no shock when Joel wasn't drafted into the NHL. No big deal. Joel went to UPEI and carved out a successful 4 year career in CIS hockey.

A few years in the minors didn't deter Joel from his NHL dream, so you see the latest stuff won't bother Joel who really made his mark in the playoffs last season with Nashville.

So again it did not surprise me at all that after the heart breaking loss to the Rangers, Ward was in the dressing room waiting to talk to the media. No ducking or hiding with Joel Ward.

“It’s definitely a letdown,” Ward told reporters. “I definitely let the squad down and cost us a game with a terrible play. And it happened pretty quick.”

The 31-year-old from Toronto was sent to the penalty box after his stick caught Rangers forward Carl Hagelin in the face after a defensive zone draw. It drew blood, and the extra penalty.

Brad Richards tied the game with 6.6 seconds left and with Ward still in the box, Marc Staal scored the game winner in OT.

It comes as no surprise that the Capitals defended Ward after the game.

Capitals forward Matt Hendricks told reporters: “It was a tough play. He’s doing everything he can to box that guy out like he’s supposed to, doing his job. Unfortunately, those things happen, with high sticks and a penalty. Joel’s done an outstanding job. There’s nothing you can do there.”

“It’s a tough break for Joel," said Mike Knuble. "We all feel terrible for him. It was a shot. It was the moment they needed, and they took advantage of it.”

Capitals defenceman Karl Alzner added “That’s the way with any sport. One time, you do something great, and the next time, you don’t. It’s happened to me a number of times, where I’ve tipped pucks into my own net or done something stupid. I mean, I know a game where I’ve had a goal and an assist in the first period, and two goals against my own net in one period. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

I would expect Joel and his Capital teammates to respond with a strong effort in game 6. After all, Ward has surprised before. Don't bet against him doing so again.