Philadelphia Flyers forward Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was suspended one game Tuesday for his hit from behind on Washington Capitals defenceman Dmitry Orlov.
The hit occurred late in the third period when Orlov was retrieving a puck in his zone and Bellemare shoved the defenceman head-first into the boards. Orlov remained in the game.
Bellemare received a five-minute major and a game misconduct. The Capitals scored three power play goals to finish the game with a 6-1 score.
According to NHL Player Safety in the video attached to the announcement, “The onus here is on Bellemare to not take advantage of a player in a vulnerable position.”
They acknowledged that Orlov lost an edge prior to impact but also that Bellemare did not change his angle of approach before making contact with the defenceman. As well, the fact that Orlov remained in the game and that Bellemare has no history of supplemental discipline factored into the decision to suspend him for one game, according to the release from the league.
The Flyers and Capitals play again Wednesday night with Washington leading the series 3-0.
