PHILADELPHIA – Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik will not play in Game 4 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal series on Wednesday after sustaining an injury in Monday’s 6-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Caps coach Barry Trotz made the announcement after a practice on Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center. Orpik was injured at 11:59 of the second period when hit by Flyers forward Ryan White.
Orpik Carried Off Ice After Ryan White Hit
The hit was clean and appeared harmless. But Orpik went to the ice in immediate pain and was hunched over as team trainer Greg Smith helped him to the dressing room. Orpik did not participate in Tuesday’s practice.
“We’re really deep at that position. Obviously we’ve got eight defensemen that are capable at the NHL level and got a couple in Hershey that have come up and played good stretches for us,” Trotz said. “That’s an area that I think is a strength of our team. Whoever steps up, it’s a next-man-up mentality. Brooks will miss this next game and we’ll see where it is.”
Orpik, Washington’s senior defenseman at age 35, missed 41 games during the regular season with a broken leg. He was injured on Nov. 10 and didn’t return to game action until Feb. 16. Orpik had recently returned to playing with John Carlson. That defensive pairing had started the season together before injuries kept both out of the lineup for long stretches. Carlson missed 26 games and eventually had a procedure to fix an ailing ankle.
“We just have to play strong, tough, physical and responsible,” Caps defenseman Karl Alzner said. “I mean, that’s what [Orpik] does every time he’s out there, so that’s how we’ll have to do it. Guys have done it for big chunks already of the season. Obviously, a huge piece of the team, but we have a lot of depth, I think.”
The choices at the NHL level to replace Orpik are defensemen Taylor Chorney and Mike Weber. It appears Weber would be the better fit to replace Orpik’s physical skillset. He was acquired from Buffalo just before the Feb. 29 trade deadline.
“Stay ready. The mindset doesn’t change,” Weber said. “I’ve been in this position a few times in my career and you just bring the same thought process every day, the same work ethic and the same focus. And whatever the coaches decide, I’m sure we’ll know that later on [Tuesday] or even [Wednesday] morning, depending on how Brooksie is, and we’ll go on from there.”
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