Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov is playing in his 500th career game this afternoon as the Capitals host the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first time this season. Today’s Super Bowl Sunday matinee also marks Orlov’s 399th consecutive game, which is the fifth-longest active streak in the NHL.
Orlov is the 30th player in franchise history and the 13th defenseman to reach the mark. With one team within their first 500 career games, he ranks third in NHL history with the most consecutive games, only behind John Carlson (412) and former Capital Karl Alzner (449).
The Capitals played a tribute video during the second period to honor Orlov.
500 games of ORLY! #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/xwnOBn1Gq7
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2020
Setting a new career-high in each category, Orlov is on pace for 31 assists and 36 points over an 82 game season. Should he reach the 30 assist mark, he would join Andrei Markov, Sergei Gonchar, Mikhail Sergachev, Slava Voynov and Nikita Zaitsev as the only Russian defensemen to record 30 assists in a season since 2010-11.
Additionally, despite starting 50.2 percent of his face-offs in his own defensive zone, the third-highest of his career, Orlov’s 54.8 shot attempt percentage at five-on-five is the highest of his career. His current shot attempt percentage ranks eighth among defensemen with at least 50 games played this season.
By Della Young
Congrats on 500, DIMA! #ALLCAPS @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/YmrsjiXYEP
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2020
