WATCH: Brooks Orpik crushes Dan Boyle with questionable hit
Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik delivered a devastating hit to Dan Boyle, who had to leave the game after he had trouble getting his legs back under him.
In a tight Game 7 that was tied 1-1 at about the midway point of the third period, the contest screeched to a halt after Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik leveled New York Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle with a devastating hit.
The referee’s whistle stopped play when the Rangers blueliner had trouble getting his feet under him after trying to get up. Boyle was clearly woozy as he remained on his knees before one of the Rangers’ athletic trainers.
Here's another look via @myregularface:
There was no penalty on the play, but the hit was borderline at best.
Orpik’s shoulder clearly caught Boyle in the head (important: principal point of contact) and while he didn’t leave his feet, Orpik lurched forward as he delivered the hit. Had Orpik stayed low as opposed to popping up as he did, there would have been a better chance of him avoiding head contact.
Here's one more look via @myregularface:
At full speed, there’s very little way the referees could have accurately called contact to the head. It all happened so fast. However the Department of Player Safety will have the benefit of replays, many of them. And they’re probably going to take a look at it.
That doesn’t mean Orpik will get suspended, though. It’s a very tough play to judge with a lot of factors involved including Boyle’s body position prior to the hit, if Orpik could have reasonably avoided head contact and whether there was an injury on the play. Some are already drawing comparisons to this and the hit that got Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall suspended during the first round. While not exactly a carbon copy, there are certainly some similarities, though Orpik's feet appear to leave the ice at the point of contact as opposed to just prior.
The Department of Player Safety will get a lot more angles and speeds than we have, but it seems fair to say they’re going to have to take their time with it. If the Capitals season does end tonight, Orpik still could be suspended with it carrying over to next season.
