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Brooks Orpik has Shanahan’s back

Ottawa Senators v Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 10: Brooks Orpik #44 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Ottawa Senators on January 10, 2012 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

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Even after teammates James Neal and Arron Asham were suspended, Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik was sticking up for embattled league disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan.

“They have a very tough job to do,” Orpik said, as per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “We all knew something was coming. It’s not up to us to decide. I don’t know what the feeling in the room was. You accept it and go with it. We had an hour-long meeting with Brendan Shanahan in New Jersey. I wish everyone had a chance to see how he comes up with his decisions and how much thought he puts into it.”

Orpiks added: “It’s not just [Shanahan]. There’s a panel of people. People have to take a step back and see how much goes into it.”

In a possibly related story, Orpik escaped suspension for a knee-on-knee check on Derek Stepan less than two weeks ago.