I like Orlov, and am a Caps fan, but I can admit he probably should have at least been fined or something. As a rule I generally hate refs, and I can understand he was pissed off and shyte happens in the heat of the moment that a player will probably regret when he considers it after-the-fact, but it isn’t cool to be shoving a ref.

In my men’s league, we usually just shoot pucks at the ref when we’re pissed off.

But then, the NHL’s rules leave lots of those pesky gray areas and too much room for interpretation… which is probably one of the reasons why discipline (and penalty calling) is so aggravatingly inconsistent.

The difference comes when there’s an upper-body action (a yanking back with the arm or shoulder) to create a violent crash to the ice rather than just a trip.

Rinaldo clearly pushes him down while tripping him to cause the fall to be more violent. Skinner just kicked Orlov’s foot out and skated away.

Orlov shoulda been suspended. This isn’t the KHL.

I repeat.

Shoving a ref produces no disciplinary action in the NHL.

…incredible.

I am calling on the Caps to activate “The Wrecker” for the next meeting with Carolina, Skinners act is wearing pretty thin.