1. After making a costly mistake (and generally having a rough – albeit short – outing in Game 1 overall), Barry Trotz alluded to Dmitry Orlov being on a short leash. How short?
All indications are that Taylor Chorney will replace Dmitry Orlov on #Caps‘ blue line for Game 2 vs. #Pens. Karl Alzner should play.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 30, 2016
Taylor Chorney thinks the plan is for him to play tonight.
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 30, 2016
Ah, but Barry is a cagey one…
Trotz wouldn’t confirm that Chorney was in for Orlov tonight: “We don’t talk about roster. Watch warmup and you’ll see what we’re doing.”
— Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) April 30, 2016
Trotz wouldn’t confirm that Orlov is out and Chorney is in. Asked about Alzner, he said everyone is “available” for tonight
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 30, 2016
2. The Penguins are clearly uncomfortable with the level of physicality displayed by the Caps, especially their forwards, and appear to be more than a little banged up already.
My @TribLIVE column on Simple Solution to keeping #pens battered D-men healthy for series >> https://t.co/elKtdI0XGv @Sportsmanias
— Rob Rossi (@RobRossi_Trib) April 30, 2016
Maatta said he isn’t limited physically in any way. Said team needs “a short memory” and limit mistakes in Gm 2 -SK
— Pens Inside Scoop (@PensInsideScoop) April 29, 2016
It’s Thunderdome out there! …or is it?
Wilson: Pitt media said “it was just a crazy Game 1, it was an octagon, not a rink. and I don’t think they really watched the Philly series”
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 30, 2016
3. Yesterday we mentioned that the League should take a look at that knee-on-knee incident by Tom Wilson. Well, they did…
Believe @NHLPlayerSafety is still having some internal debate about Tom Wilson’s knee-on-knee hit on Conor Sheary last night.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 29, 2016
…and came back with this ruling:
Washington’s Tom Wilson has been fined $2,403.67, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for kneeing Pittsburgh’s Conor Sheary.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 29, 2016
Needless to say, not everyone was impressed.
Tom Wilson has just been fined 0.27% of his annual salary for kneeing. Now that’s what I call a deterrent!
— Ken Campbell (@THNKenCampbell) April 29, 2016
— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) April 29, 2016
But really, it’s not all that surprising that Wilson only received a fine.
There was almost zero chance of a suspension for Wilson.
NHL rarely suspends for kneeing (or for anything in playoffs). No injury.
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) April 29, 2016
I think all of that is stupid, but that is the standard the NHL has repeatedly set. No way it was changing here.
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) April 29, 2016
Wilson, for his part, offered his side of the story.
Wilson on Sheary hit: “I was just gonna bluff check him, give him a fake attack, go to the bench and our legs got caught up.”
— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 30, 2016
Caps Wilson on NHL: “I know they’re watching. I play the game hard. When you play the game that way, you’re going to be under a microscope.”
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) April 30, 2016