Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik is questionable to return after a hard check along the boards by Philadelphia forward Ryan White.
Orpik was caught in a vulnerable position along the boards. White appears to hit him up high in the back and the head, as well as making contact with the knees. Orpik falls to the ice and is unable to get up.
Orpik remained down for several minutes, needing assistance from trainers and teammates to get to his feet and into the locker room. The Capitals announced Orpik is questionable to return.
#Caps Brooks Orpik is being evaluated and is questionable to return.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 19, 2016
White did not receive a penalty for the hit.
“Brooks Orpik gets caught in a vulnerable position here,” CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Alan May said at intermission. “He spins to his backhand, the shoulder’s down here. Ryan White comes from across the ice here and nails him. Buries him high. It’s hard to tell. There’s knee on knee contact. There’s upper body contact. It doesn’t look like there’s anything in the head. So you have to wonder. He’s had neck injuries in the past. He’s had back injuries in the past. He takes a solid hit from a guy that is known for hitting.”
The severity or type of the injury is not yet known.
Earlier in the season, Orpik missed 40 games due to a bone injury in his lower body. Orpik did not put any weight on his right leg as he left the ice.
Time will tell if Brooks will miss any extended time as the Caps and the playoffs move forward.
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