Skip to content
Flyers
Link copied to clipboard

Caps' Orlov suspended 2 games for hit on Schenn

Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov was suspended two games by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Monday for his hit on Flyers forward Brayden Schenn on Sunday.

Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov was suspended two games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety on Monday for his hit on Flyers forward Brayden Schenn on Sunday.

For Orlov, 22, a career day on Sunday has turned into one to forget.

After netting his first career two-goal game, Orlov sought revenge against Schenn for a legal hit seconds earlier on the same shift and violently hit him from behind. The incident occurred with 9:33 remaining in the third period.

Schenn was not injured on the play and remained in the game.

The Flyers received a five-minute major power play and scored once to cut Washington's lead to 4-3. Claude Giroux tied the game with 1:05 remaining and Vinny Lecavalier won it for the Flyers in overtime.

Unlike earlier this season, when Washington's Tom Wilson also had a hearing for a questionable hit on Schenn, the Capitals' player was punished. On Dec. 17, NHL senior vice president Brendan Shanahan ultimately decided against punishment for Wilson since Schenn turned his back just prior to contact.

This time, Schenn's back was facing Orlov, but he remained in a vulnerable position with the puck. Schenn looked back to see if Orlov was coming prior to playing the puck.

"The onus is upon Orlov to avoid this check entirely, or at the very least, to minimize it," the NHL's Patrick Burke said in a video explanation. "Instead, recognizing that it is Schenn, Orlov retaliates to the earlier hit."

Full video of the hit is below. Orlov will forfeit $7,076.92 in salary for the two games missed, including Wednesday night's game against the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center.

For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers