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Capitals' Orlov suspended 2 games for kneeing Jets' Ehlers

Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov has been suspended two games for kneeing Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

Washington defenceman forfeits $51K US in salary, Winnipeg forward out indefinitely

Stephen Whyno · The Associated Press ·
Dmitry Orlov of the Washington Capitals during a game against the Buffalo Sabres in December. Orlov was suspended by the NHL for two games on Wednesday for kneeing Ehlers. (Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)

Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov has been suspended two games for kneeing Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

The NHL department of player safety announced the suspension Wednesday after holding a hearing with Orlov and his representatives.

Orlov was not penalized for the knee-on-knee hit late in regulation of the Capitals' game against the Jets on Tuesday night. Ehlers was injured on the play and is considered out indefinitely.

Coach Dave Lowry said he was "disappointed" in the lack of a penalty call. Orlov assisted on Washington's overtime goal minutes later.

WATCH | Caps' Orlov suspended 2 games following hearing with NHL:

Capitals' Dmitry Orlov to have a hearing after knee-on-knee hit on Jets' Nik Ehlers

5 months ago
Duration 1:24
Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov will have a hearing on Wednesday with the NHL's Department of Player Safety after he collided with Winnipeg Jets' forward Nik Ehlers in Tuesday night's game.
"If [the officials] would have saw it the same way I saw it, it would probably have been more than a minor penalty," Lowry said after the Jets lost 4-3 in OT. "I lose a world-class player and it's a fast game and I have the luxury of watching and rewinding it and watching it in slow motion. You're disappointed as a coach. I lose a player, and I will probably lose him for more than one game."

Orlov will not be eligible to play in Washington's upcoming games at Boston on Thursday and against Ottawa on Saturday. He forfeits $51,000 US in salary as part of the suspension. It's his second NHL suspension and first since 2014, when he was docked two games for boarding.

In a video explaining the latest suspension, the league said Orlov turned his leg toward Ehlers and extended it in such a way that a last-second movement by Ehlers did not turn it from a legal body check into kneeing.

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