Capitals' Orlov gets 2-game ban

NINE FIGHTS. Two hundred and eighty-six penalty minutes. Five game misconducts.

Now, finally, we can add one suspension to the Flyers' and Capitals' juicy first-season series as Metropolitan Division rivals.

That's because Washington defenseman Dmitry Orlov was suspended for two games yesterday by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for boarding Brayden Schenn during the Flyers' come-from-behind win Sunday at Verizon Center.

Orlov will miss tomorrow night's rematch against the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center - their second nationally televised grudge match in a row. He will also forfeit $7,076.92 in salary as a result of his vengeful hit from behind on Schenn.

With less than 10 minutes to play in the third period, Orlov sought revenge from Schenn for a legal check just seconds earlier on the same play. Trailing by two goals, the Flyers received a 5-minute power play for the major penalty, scored once, and used the momentum to tie the game with 1:05 remaining in the contest.

Unlike earlier in the season, when Washington's Tom Wilson avoided a suspension after another questionable hit on Schenn from a game on Dec. 17, justice was served for the Flyers yesterday.

Back in December, NHL senior vice president Brendan Shanahan ruled against punishment for Wilson because Schenn turned his back just before contact. In this case, Schenn also turned his back, but Orlov's intent clearly played a role.

"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 online. "Instead, recognizing that it is Schenn, Orlov retaliates to the earlier hit."

The Flyers, who sit in second place in the Metropolitan for the first time all season, are 2-1-1 against the Capitals this season. Their Nov. 1 blowout loss, with multiple fights, was one of the turning points of their season - with Ray Emery skating the full length of the ice to pound Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby.

Washington recalled defenseman Jack Hillen yesterday from AHL Hershey to replace Orlov in the lineup.

Goaltender Cal Heeter was returned to AHL Adirondack yesterday, signifying Ray Emery (lower-body) is ready to return to the lineup after leaving last Thursday's game with an injury. Heeter backed up Steve Mason for both games over the weekend . . . The Penguins-Blackhawks Stadium Series game at Soldier Field on Saturday averaged 2.8 million viewers in prime time on NBC, the highest-rated non-Winter Classic regular-season game in history.

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