Orpik was assessed a minor penalty for interference at the time. “That injury to [Dmitry] Orlov in the previous season [could have been] career-ending”, said Trotz, of the hit by Pierre-Edouard Bellemare that earned the Flyers player one game.
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“It was a bad hit”, the Washington Capitals defenseman told a huge media gathering. “I thought it was a target to his head”.
“There wasn’t much arguing”, Orpik said.
“I’m disappointed in the length more than anything else”.
Capitals coach Barry Trotz said he was disappointed but not surprised by the suspension.
Maatta exited for the locker room and did not return. Taylor Chorney suited up for the Washington defense in the last game and has seen some spotty action throughout the playoffs so far; however, he is generally a bubble player and may be pulled in favor of putting both of these replacements in. “It was late. Obviously no intention to hit him in the head, but that was the result”.
Capitals defenseman John Carlson defended Orpik as a player and a person.
March 17 2016: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta (3) blocks a shot from reaching Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Matt Murray (30).
Teammates chimed in to, all taking about how classy of a player Orpik is, and Tom Wilson was quick to explain his anger with the comments. “I’ve dealt with enough head and neck issues to know that was tough to watch”. “I think that’s what I tried to do and made a pretty bad mistake with how late it was”.
Orpik didn’t have a rap sheet with the National Hockey League but does have a reputation for playing on the edge. With the series heading north to the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, things should get heated, especially after a very physical Game 2, which the Penguins won 2-1 thanks to a game-winning goal from former Caps forward Eric Fehr.
Orpik has also been a key member of the PK, which probably means more minutes for Chorney and Schmidt in that situation, which could be to the Pens advantage. They have not lost two consecutive games in 3 1/2 months – since dropping a pair in overtime against Carolina and Tampa Bay on January 12 and 14. His line was shut down by the Capitals’ top trio of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie, something that Crosby can’t let happen again in Game 2 on Saturday night.
For the Capitals, it’s likely they put either Mike Weber or Dmitry Orlov in as his replacement.
One of the more likeable and easy-going coaches in the league, Trotz normally is not one to make such strong allegations. It’s not like we can really replace Brooks, but collectively, hopefully, we can fill the gap.
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“It’s good knowing that we have that, but that doesn’t guarantee anything”, said captain Joe Pavelski, who had the tiebreaking goal in a 3-2 victory in Game 2.
