The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov will be suspended for two games for kneeing Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers. It was a knee on knee hit that caused an injury to Ehlers as he passed the puck.
This is the first time Orlov has been suspended since 2014 so the punishment isn’t as severe as a repeat offender.
The number of games that Dmitry Orlov should be suspended for this hit on Nikolaj Ehlers is ________ games?
— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) January 19, 2022
(he will have a hearing with @NHLPlayerSafety today)
CC: @TimCPeel20 pic.twitter.com/lwUJdUtPWb
Orlov had his hearing with the NHL DoPS earlier today. This sequence happened late in the third period. There was no whistle from the ref on the play. Jets Coach Dave Lowry said that his forward would miss the next game.
Orlov’s 2014 suspension came when he boarded Brayden Schenn which was also the length of two games. This is the Caps first suspension of the regular season. In the preseason, Dylan McIlrath was suspended four games for a high hit on Steven Fogarty of the Boston Bruins.
Now the Caps are missing two of their top defensemen with no John Carlson either due to COVID protocol. There are some options like Michal Kempny who could slot in. Kempny began the season in Hershey.
Orlov will miss Thursday’s road game against the Boston Bruins and Saturday’s home matchup against the Ottawa Senators. He’ll be eligible to come back for Monday’s home game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Still being without Orlov and Carlson against the Bruins will be tough as the Caps will look to get payback from their 7-3 loss to them. It’s not just the defense banged up either. T.J. Oshie is day to day with an upper body injury but did skate before the team took the ice for an optional practice. Conor Sheary is also out due to COVID protocol.
Orlov has five goals and 14 assists for 19 points while ranking second among the blue line average ice time at 21:01 minutes per game.