Tuesday night, Dmitry Orlov delivered a perfect hip check to Matt Duchene. The hit lit up both Duchene and social media, garnering nearly 4,000 retweets on the NHL’s Twitter account in 24 hours.
On Wednesday, Orlov spoke about his highlight-reel play with local media. The Russian defenseman was quick to show concern for the Avalanche forward, saying “I think it’s good that [Duchene] didn’t get hurt and was still in the game… and that we win that game.”
Orlov’s full comments on the hit are below.
.@orlov_09 on his strong performance in last night's #CapsAvs shutout victory. pic.twitter.com/yfprqlwLjn
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 19, 2016
Did you get the full effect of what that looked like?
Dmitry Orlov: Honestly, no, when I look at replay you can see like very dangerous hit, probably I got lucky on this one. Kind of was close to him. You know I don’t want to hurt him or something. It just was kind of quick decision that I made and I think it’s good that he didn’t get hurt and was still in the game, and that we win that game.”
What was the reaction from your teammates?
Dmitry Orlov: Yeah, everybody said its a nice hit, but you know, after I need to forget and after this shift tried to just play the game, not tried to think about it. That kind of was nice, but whatever the whole game was, I needed to play two more periods and tried not to focus [on it]. I don’t know what I can say, what happens happens, everybody. I should forget.
It’s a high risk play though, because if you miss and he makes a move you are out of the play. But you’ve had good timing on those hits before, talk about the timing to make the hit?
Dmitry Orlov: You know like it’s kind of, you give a guy a chance and he thinks he can go through you. Then when he believe you try to get a step and make a hit so and it happens this moment. You know then the exhibition game for Russia I try to make the same play and Plekanec gets me. So you know is risky play, but you know you can’t do it every time like every shift, this just happens once maybe whole season, so this happen last night.
Was your phone blowing up?
Dmitry Orlov: Yeah, friends kind of laugh a lot about that, said it was nice hit. Trotz said before that need to forget about that.
One of your better games?
Dmitry Orlov: Yeah, for sure, I think I have experience since the World Cup and you know it was quick game… And i think it’s helped me to play now, and it’s hard to say with game calendar and only played three games, and right now I feel confident but we will see how other games go.
During his own press conference with the media, Head Coach Barry Trotz was basically as impressed on the hit as all of us.
“Orly was really strong obviously highlighted by the big hit that was highlight reel, a real clean hit,” Trotz said. “He got the shoulder into the waist and obviously the momentum of Duchene and the speed of Duchene and Orly lifting him a little bit it made for some great photos I’m sure. You’ll see that one for a while on some of the highlights, the sports highlights, for a while.”
