http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/players/dmitri_orlov/142611 Recent articles about Dmitri Orlov en-us Right as Washington was settling in for a spring-delayed/prolonged winter weekend last night came word (via Twitter, necessarily) of some manner of meteor shower, or meteor explosion, high in the sky above the capital. For those watching the hockey televised from Winnipeg then, the astronomical anomaly could just as easily have been reported the dramatic arrival of a UFO, one that in its path over North America had borne 20-some-odd extra strength, extra-terrestrial skaters in red, and air-dropped in Manitoba. From what planet exactly did these dominating Capitals skaters come from? I’m here to urge: Don’t start asking the questions you want to. Don’t get caught up in irrationally exuberant conjecture. Don’t scurry over to Sportsclubstats.com for updated postseason odds (though the upward movement for Red overnight was dramatic). Most of all, don’t pretend that what for all of winter 2013 has been 12-pack ugly is suddenly beauty pageant worthy. Instead, do what I did with Thursda... Sat, 23 Mar 2013 00:32:55 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/suspension_of_disbelief/13213651 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/suspension_of_disbelief/13213651 Suspension of Disbelief http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/suspension_of_disbelief/13213651 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Caps fall to the Penguins, 2-1, in the first game back for Brooks Laich and Dmitri Orlov. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:40:53 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/laich_and_orlovs_return_spoiled_by_penguins/13186591 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/laich_and_orlovs_return_spoiled_by_penguins/13186591 Laich and Orlov’s Return Spoiled by Penguins http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/laich_and_orlovs_return_spoiled_by_penguins/13186591 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/4/e/4e69d348925298fc11325d67d4b60891d678f2cd/mini/Washington_Capitals_v_7624.jpg [Ed. Note: Rock the Brock will be a reoccuring post from Brock Kerchner, co-host of the Old Barn Hockey Show on 1460 The Ticket in Harrisburg, featuring a weekly chat on all things Hershey Bears]   Bears finding their game- The Bears opened up their second 3 in 3 on Friday in Hartford, CT before coming home for 2 games. They showed great energy throughout the game in Friday night, but never really broke through the neutral zone with any sense of organization. The Whale were very aggressive in their neutral zone pressure and seemed to break up every effort the Bears threw at them. Dmitri Orlov scored his first goal of the season late in the game, but the Bears ultimately fell 3-1 at the XL Center. On Saturday night the Albany Devils came to Hershey as a team loaded with talent. That talent didn’t seem to matter, as Braden Holtby stole the show from puck drop. His 35 save shutout he looked like merely a formality. The Bears’ defense (along with Holtby) was firing on all cylinders.... Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:36:10 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/rock_the_brock_haming_it_up/12106804 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/rock_the_brock_haming_it_up/12106804 Rock the Brock: Ham'ing it Up http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/rock_the_brock_haming_it_up/12106804 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png A season fraught with promise and peril delivered both in game 3 Monday night, but in the end, Washington’s roster, still not yet assembled for durable playoff prosperity, succumbed to one proven to be. Most worrisome in this moment: the mental meltdown of the Capitals’ premiere pivot. This is postseason number five for Nicklas Backstrom, and in a series as even as this one, the Capitals need him on the ice, making game-changing plays, just as he did Saturday in Boston. Instead, last night, with the game tied late and the series’ pendulum soon to swing likely in a decisive way, Nick lost his head, not once but twice. First he delivered a senseless and needless crosscheck deep in the Bruins’ zone with just over 3 minutes to play, eradicating momentum the Caps had just achieved from Brooks Laich’s (three points on the evening, and the game’s no. 1 star) game-tying tally — a tally Backstrom brilliantly quaterbacked. Then, as the final horn sounded, he high-sticked Rich Peverley in th... Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:44:24 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/bleeding_through_roster_band_aids/10574776 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/bleeding_through_roster_band_aids/10574776 Bleeding Through Roster Band-Aids http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/bleeding_through_roster_band_aids/10574776 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Mike Green elbows a defenseless Brett Connolly who was already pinned to the boards by Dmitri Orlov. Brutal elbow by Green to Connolly's head. Connolly did skate off on his own and no penalty was called on the play.What a dumb decision by Mike Green to do. I guess it's not like he knows what it feels like to get a concus--- oh wait... he does.Even though no penalty was called, I can't see Mike Green not getting a suspension from Shanahan. Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:05:40 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/video_mike_greens_elbow_on_brett_connolly/10265728 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/video_mike_greens_elbow_on_brett_connolly/10265728 Video: Mike Green's elbow on Brett Connolly http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/video_mike_greens_elbow_on_brett_connolly/10265728 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Washington Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov was ejected from Tuesday night's NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes for shoving a linesman after a fight with Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner. It happened in the second period of the game against the visiting Carolina Hurricanes. Orlov took exception to a Skinner hit and the players got into a fight, along with other players from both teams, when the referees came over to separate the players. One of the linesmen was able to get Orlov away from Skinner, but Orlov was still angry and continued to try to go after Skinner through the linesman. Orlov then gave the linesman a shove, getting himself a game misconduct and was sent to the locker room. The Hurricanes won the game in overtime, 4-3. Video via CSNWashington.com. H/T Puck Daddy. Holdout Sports is now a member of the Yardbarker Network. Visit us at holdoutsports.com. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:48:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/capitals_defenseman_dmitry_orlov_ejected_for_pushing_linesman_video/10250818 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/capitals_defenseman_dmitry_orlov_ejected_for_pushing_linesman_video/10250818 Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov ejected for pushing linesman (Video) http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/capitals_defenseman_dmitry_orlov_ejected_for_pushing_linesman_video/10250818 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Before the season, the Washington Capitals were viewed by many as a Stanley Cup favorite. Now they are fighting for their playoff lives as the stretch run approaches. Will the Caps turn it around and make the playoffs? Alexander and Tab debate…Ovechkin and company will find a way into the danceBy Alexander MonaghanWith Friday’s win, the Washington Capitals now sit two points back of the Florida Panthers for the division lead. Moreover, they are only one point back of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the standings. Considering the odds, I think they make it.After Friday’s huge win over the Cats, the Capitals could be turning a corner. Coach Dale Hunter received solid netminding from Tomas Vokoun, while the team got offensive contributions from their two biggest players – Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin. If those three players are the best players on the team from now until April, they will win a lot more games.By that same token, the Capitals expect Mike Green to return during one of ... Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:30:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/saturday_faceoff_will_caps_make_playoffs/9988507 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/saturday_faceoff_will_caps_make_playoffs/9988507 Saturday Faceoff: Will Caps make playoffs? http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/saturday_faceoff_will_caps_make_playoffs/9988507 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/1/511e46331ba159dd88bcfe8ff09b9522e08faa95/mini/Blue_Jackets_v_d605.jpg Early in the third period Sunday, Capitals forward Jason Chimera made a move up the left wing into the Carolina Hurricanes’ zone. Usually, his speed means he’s there by himself, but today, thanks to what seemed a more hesitant pace, there was company—Joel Ward on the opposite boards, and in the center rookie defenseman Dmitri Orlov, whose hustle ended up carrying him past Chimera and towards the net. Chimera shot. Cam Ward made sure he missed. But the rebound came out just in time for Orlov to reach back as he skated past the net, and stick the puck past Ward for his first NHL goal. The smile that flashed on Orlov’s face afterwards pretty much rendered the red goal light unnecessary.  And he put his team up 2-1, which would be the final score. “Right then and there, you remember your first goal, when you scored your first NHL goal,” said Chimera, who had an assist and a hand in the initial on-ice celebration. “And it’s pretty cool. It’s a cool moment for him. … You wish you could... Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:37:19 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/a_priceless_goal/9371705 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/a_priceless_goal/9371705 A Priceless Goal http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/a_priceless_goal/9371705 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/8/284fd0f5db22acbe1f3301c88022badc872a8644/mini/Carolina_Hurricanes_v_2b49.jpg With last night’s 3-1 victory over the Calgary Flames, the Washington Capitals remained perfect, with Mike Green that is.  Despite the fact that the Capitals currently sit in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, they are actually now 9-0 when Mike Green is in the line-up.  Last night marked his first game since taking a hit from Devils’ forward Ryan Carter on November 11, 2011.  We learned last week that Green’s injury might never fully heal.  As such, it became important for his reinsertion into the line-up be as gradual as possible.  Hunter decided to ease the process by choosing to scratch Matthieu Perreault (Semin also scratched for injury) and dress 7 defensemen.  It definitely made for some odd line combinations at time, including a shift that put Ovechkin and Hendricks on the ice together.  Green spent the majority of his ice time (15:43) skating with rookie Dmitri Orlov.  With Orlov regularly joining the rush, Green was able to play a bit more passively, lowering injury ri... Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:41:03 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/greens_return/9126457 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/greens_return/9126457 Green’s Return http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/greens_return/9126457 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/6/96517c8cfdfbf395c208ef4c428624dd375eea30/mini/Capitals_Green_takes_6c5d.jpg It’s a weird night at the Verizon Center when Alexander Semin finishes with more ice time than Alex Ovechkin. True, it was only by 47 seconds, and since Ovechkin finished with 21 shifts and Semin only 19, it looks more coincidental than any kind of message being sent from the bench. Semin finished Friday with the longest average shift length on the team (that’s one way to get more ice time–just stay out there). But it’s just one example of the disjointed 60 minutes that saw the New York Rangers beat the Capitals 6-3, a surprising score for a game that had no goals in the first period. Another example: Boudreau said after Wednesday night’s game that the Capitals felt they needed to be in the ’30′ range on hits to succeed and play their style. On Friday, the Capitals finished with 40 hits to New York’s 28, yet they lost by three goals. Theoretically, hitting and d-zone coverage should not be mutually exclusive but, by the end of the night, that was the reality for Washington. And ... Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:42:17 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/caps_8217_disjointed_effort_leads_to_6_3_rangers_8217_victory/8331961 http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/caps_8217_disjointed_effort_leads_to_6_3_rangers_8217_victory/8331961 Caps’ Disjointed Effort Leads to 6-3 Rangers’ Victory http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/caps_8217_disjointed_effort_leads_to_6_3_rangers_8217_victory/8331961 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/768871ddf02909f9830e9fcc5c86e05b81061cb1/mini/Washington_Capitals_v_c9fb.jpg