Photo: Sportsnet
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Wednesday that Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov has been suspended for two games after the 30-year-old kneed left-wing Nikolaj Ehlers in the team’s 4-3 overtime win over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday night.
After Ehlers passed the puck in the left corner of the offensive zone, Orlov extended his knee into Ehlers’ with seven minutes left in the third period. No penalty was assessed on the play.
Jets head coach Dave Lowry said after the game that Ehlers will likely miss more than one game.
Orlov has been suspended once previously in his 605-game NHL career, which was a two-game ban for boarding on March 2, 2014. Under the CBA, he is not a repeat offender as his last suspension was nearly eight years ago.
Defenseman John Carlson will also be out for the Capitals’ next game against the Boston Bruins on Thursday (7 PM ET, ESPN+/Hulu) as he has to spend at least five days in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol (he entered on Sunday). The two average the most ice-time among Capitals blueliners (Carlson: 23:43, Orlov: 21:01). Orlov also averages 1:04 on the power play (behind Carlson, 3:56, and Justin Schultz, 1:09) and 43 seconds on the penalty kill (fifth among Capitals defensemen).
Orlov missed two games last week due to COVID-19 protocol.
Orlov, who has earned five goals, 19 points, and a +17 rating (only behind defenseman Nick Jensen, +20), will be eligible to return against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.
By Harrison Brown
healthy. Hit was not on purpose. Beginning to think they have issues with the caps. Ovi, wilson and orlaf. Sad.
Canadian jury rules in favor of Canadian player? Imagine that.
Isn’t Ehlers from Denmark?
Ugh, figured DoPS was going to do something. Fehevary gets flung into the boards by Crosby aaaand crickets.
and the league can’t figure out why Caps fans think the league hates this franchise
Bad hit deserves punishment. Caps fans were up in arms about Kadri on O, which wasn’t nearly as bad as this.
Orlov is an honest player who made a mistake and has to suffer the consequences. Novacaps”fans” have completely missed the mark, as they pretty much always do.
Nhl wants Ovie not to make playoffs and doesn’t want him to break Gretzkys record. Why they hate caps. Anyone know where I can buy some cheap tin foil and masks?