Smith-Pelly addresses racial taunts in Capitals game

BUFFALO -- Washington Capitals forward Devante Smith-Pelly spoke Sunday about the incident the previous evening when Chicago Blackhawks fans used racist taunts against him at United Center.
Smith-Pelly was in the penalty box serving a five-minute major for fighting in the third period of Washington's 7-1 loss when the incident occurred.

"I was just in the box and I heard some… racially charged chanting," Smith-Pelly said. "You could tell by my reaction I was pretty upset. ... But what was said this time crossed the line, so you could tell by my reaction."

Four fans were ejected from the arena by security personnel shortly after the incident.
"It's disgusting," Smith-Pelly said. "I don't even really know. … It's sad that, I mean, it's 2018 and we're still talking about the same thing over and over. It's sad that athletes like myself 30, 40 years ago were standing in the same spot saying the same thing. You'd think there'd be some sort of change or progression, but we're still working towards it, I guess, and we're going to keep working toward it."
The NHL
, the Blackhawks, and
Capitals all released statements
condemning the actions of the fans in Chicago.

"It happened one other time when I was younger in Penticton (British Columbia) and I had the same reaction back then but I didn't really tell anyone about it," Smith-Pelly said
"They did it and I just kind of brushed it off, but we're at a time now where we can't brush it under the rug, you've got to start calling people out and making sure people see other people's true colors. So I guess I'm trying to get the conversation started and show whoever these people are their true colors."