041816 | RMNB

Evgeny Kuznetsov: ‘Our Fans Have More Class’

Photo: Elsa

Monday night at Wells Fargo Center, Evgeny Kuznetsov scored his first goal in 22 games. It was a gift from the Hockey Gods. Kuznetsov scored after a Justin Williams dump-in took a strange bounce off the boards. The puck ricocheted to Kuznetsov, who was skating alone towards the front of the net. Using sublime patience, Kuznetsov tucked the puck past Steve Mason’s outstretched pad, giving the Caps a back-breaking 3-1 third period lead.

Several minutes later, Kuznetsov was on the ice when he saw his friend, Dmitry Orlov, get shoved headfirst into the boards by Pierre-Édouard Bellemare. As Orlov received medical attention on the bench, a Flyers fan threw a bracelet from the stands, striking Orly in the left cheek.

In the locker room, Kuznetsov conducted a Russian-language interview with SovSport’s Natalia Bragilevskaya and spoke about how the game turned into a sideshow in the third period.

“No fan would be happy when his team is losing,” Kuznetsov said. “That’s how it happened, but it is on their conscience. Our fans have more class.”

Kuznetsov also seemed to be genuinely touched and heart-broken by the pre-game ceremony honoring Flyers owner Ed Snider.

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin on Becoming the Franchise Leader in Playoff Points: ‘I Don’t Care’

Photo: Len Redkoles

Monday night during Game Three, Alex Ovechkin scored two goals and tallied an assist on a John Carlson power play marker. The three points gave Ovechkin 74 in his postseason career, giving the Great Eight sole possession of the franchise lead. Ovechkin, who now owns almost every major Capitals record, has two more postseason points than the previous record-holder, Dale Hunter.

Hunter, a 19-year veteran and a successful junior hockey league bench boss, coached Ovechkin during the 2011-12 season. He also is the only Capitals captain to take the team to the Stanley Cup Finals.

This record must have meant a lot to Ovechkin, right?

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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Pierre-Édouard Bellemare Suspended One Game for Illegal Check From Behind on Dmitry Orlov

Photo: Matt Slocum

Late in the third period of Game Three, Flyers forward Pierre-Édouard Bellemare delivered a reckless hit on Dmitry Orlov, driving the Capitals defenseman’s head into the end boards. He was assessed a five minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct with a disciplinary hearing scheduled for Tuesday. In the evening, the NHL delivered its verdict.

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By Chris Gordon 7 years ago

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Dmitry Orlov on Flyers Third Period Sideshow: ‘That’s Not Hockey; I Don’t Even Know What to Call It’

Monday night at Wells Fargo Center, Dmitry Orlov became the target of the Philadelphia Flyers’ rage, as Pierre-Édouard Bellemare sent the Caps defenseman headfirst into the boards. As Orlov received medical attention on the bench, a Flyers fan threw a bracelet from the stands, striking Orly in the left cheek. Although bloodied, Orlov remained in the game and later assisted on a power-play goal by Jay Beagle, making the final score 6-1.

In the locker room, Orlov conducted a Russian-language interview with SovSport’s Natalia Bragilevskaya and spoke about how the game turned into a sideshow in the third period.

“Sometimes you just want to get the puck,” Orlov said. “But when they play dirty against you, that’s not hockey. I don’t even know what to call it. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Orlov confirmed he was “fine,” but said he’d prefer the Caps not “prolong this series.”

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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Flyers’ Pierre-Édouard Bellemare Gets a Hearing For Boarding Dmitry Orlov

Pierre-Edouard-Bellemare-hearing-board-Dmitry-Orlov

Flyers forward Pierre-Édouard Bellemare sparked a line brawl during Game Three against the Capitals Monday after he boarded Dmitry Orlov late in the third period. Bellemare earned five-minute major and a ten-minute game misconduct penalties, but the worst (for him) may be yet to come.

The league’s Department of Player Safety announced Bellemare will have a hearing today for the hit, which ~~should~~ could earn him supplemental discipline in the form of a suspension. No official word from DoPS on whether the hearing will be in person or over the phone.

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By Nathan Burchfiel 7 years ago

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Radko Gudas Tried to Fight Andre Burakovsky After Dmitry Orlov Got Boarded

Late in the third period, Game Three turned into a sideshow. Pierre-Édouard Bellemare checked Dmitry Orlov from behind, shoving the Caps defenseman head first into the boards. The two teams brawled in the corner while Orlov lay on the ice, dazed.

Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick called Bellemare’s hit disgusting and “totally inexcusable.” And if you thought that wasn’t bad enough, Radko Gudas tried to fight skill forward Andre Burakovsky during the chaos.

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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Ryan White Hit That Injured Brooks Orpik Also Broke Off Part of Dasher Board (Photo)

Photo: @PhillyGirl1437

In the second period, Caps defenseman Brooks Orpik was injured after absorbing a painful body check from Flyers forward Ryan White. While Orpik left the game due to injury, this hit will further his legendary toughness– partly because of an image tweeted by @PhillyGirl1437.

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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‘Have Some Class’: How a Tribute to Ed Snider Became One of Philadelphia’s Most Embarrassing Sports Moments

Photo: Elsa

At first, it all went according to plan. The house lights went down at exactly 7 PM. The arena lit up in a sea of orange and white lights glimmering off commemorative wristbands. A tribute to the recently deceased Ed Snider, who founded the Flyers in 1967 and had owned the team ever since, played on the big screen. All of Wells Fargo Center, from the seating bowl to the benches to the press box, applauded a great owner. Then Kate Smith and Lauren Hart sang their trademark “God Bless America” duet. Within a minute of puck drop, the Flyers had the first goal, wildly sliding into the boards in celebration. The roar from the fans was booming. This was their night for their owner.

“Ed was a dynamic visionary who turned Philadelphia into one of the great hockey towns in the world,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said before the game in a heartfelt press conference. “He believed in excellence — and in this team, the Flyers.”

But in the end, that team let him down.

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By Chris Gordon 7 years ago

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A Summary of All the Disgraceful Things Flyers Fans Did During Game Three

On Monday night the Flyers and their fans intended to honor founder Ed Snider, who died last Tuesday due to bladder cancer. The organization gave away bracelets and painted Snider’s initials behind the goals. Lauren Hart, the team’s longtime anthem singer, sang “God Bless America” with Snider’s name and 67 on the back of her team jersey (the team’s first season was 1967-68).

But Flyers fans, some of whom had reportedly been tailgating since the early afternoon, showed boorish behavior that only got worse as the the President Trophy-winning Capitals humbled the home team in the third period.

It was undignified. It was an embarrassment. It was– as Al Koken best put it– a “clown show.”

Let’s recap.

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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Flyers Fans Threw Ed Snider Memorial Bracelets at Dmitry Orlov After He Got Boarded

After falling behind 4-1 late in the third period, the Philadelphia Flyers tried to hurt people. Flyers forward Pierre-Édouard Bellemare checked Dmitry Orlov in the numbers, causing the young Russian to slam into the boards head first. Orlov has a history of concussion problems.

It was a chickenshit hit.

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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