Penguins forward Arron Asham apologizes after taking out Washington's Jay Beagle

Pittsburgh Penguins' Arron Asham, left, and Washington Capitals' Jay Beagle (83) fight during the third-period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011. Beagle left the game bleeding from the face and the Capitals won in overtime 3-2. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Pittsburgh Penguins forward Arron Asham wanted to fire up his teammates when he dropped the gloves with Washington's Jay Beagle in the third period on Thursday.

Asham, however, took it a step too far when he rubbed it in as Beagle lay stunned on the ice, and the veteran brawler called himself on it.

Saying it was "classless," Asham apologized for mocking Beagle after dropping him with two punches in Washington's 3-2 overtime win.

Asham decked Beagle with a pair of right hands, sending the 25-year-old face-first onto the ice. Asham then spread his arms out, palms down, like a referee signalling a fighter is "out" as he skated to the penalty box and followed it up by placing his hands on the side of his head to imitate someone sleeping.

"It's unfortunate the way the fight ended," Asham said. "I wanted to win but I didn't want to go out and hurt anyone. It was uncalled for."

Washington captain Alex Ovechkin said Asham was "not respectful" for going toe-to-toe with an inexperienced fighter.

"It's a hockey game, but that was pretty tough," Ovechkin said. "Beagle ... he's not a fighter, he's just, it's not his job to fight. I don't know, it's kind of unrespectful for players on a different team."