Capitals head coach Barry Trotz did not hold back on Monday when asked about the NHL’s decision to suspend defenceman Brooks Orpik three games for his late hit on Penguins defenceman Olli Maatta in Game 2.
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Pittsburgh limited the Capitals to 10 shots over the first two periods despite losing Maatta less than five minutes into the game.
Orpik was penalized two minutes for interference on the play, but rightly the National Hockey League cracked down on the risky play.
After Maatta left Game 2, the Penguins turned to Letang to lead the defense. So, in terms of painting a picture, you can’t paint him as a bad person or that he would ever want to do something like that.
Trotz relayed that Orpik thought the puck was coming back to Orpik and that he didn’t intend to hit Maatta like that.
Orpik, who played with the Penguins before joining Capitals two years ago, had been suspended twice previously.
The suspension means Orpik might miss the rest of the teams’ second-round series, depending on how Games 3, 4 and 5 turn out.
“I think it was fair”, Orpik said of the suspension.
One of the more likeable and easy-going coaches in the league, Trotz normally is not one to make such strong allegations.
When the Penguins are playing their A-game, they are using their speed to wear down the other team.
“If you know anything about Brooks, he plays hard, he plays clean”, Trotz said.
Pittsburgh secured a much-needed split in Washington, but can the momentum carry over to the Consol Energy Center for tonight’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals?
“I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised based on who we’re playing and all that”, Trotz said.
Pittsburgh began that stretch with a 6-2 rout March 20 that ended a three-game home losing streak against the Capitals. He was given a one-game suspension in 2003 for kneeing then-Los Angeles Kings defenseman Tim Gleason and then a three-game ban in 2006 for boarding then-Carolina Hurricanes winger Erik Cole.
“I don’t think there’s anything that you can argue”, said Orpik, who spoke with contrition and regret.
“(Orpik) knows Maatta is not in control of the puck”, the league said. Orpik missed the final three games of Washington’s first-round win over Philadelphia after getting crunched along the boards in Game 3. If we aren’t going to punish those kind of hits severely, what hope do we have of eliminating them from the game? Pouliot has never played in a Stanley Cup playoff game, although early indications are he might get the nod over Schultz for Game 3.
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But as we said off the top … does this actually help the Capitals?
