|
Orpik won't throw linesman under bus
By
Rob Longley, QMI AGENCY
|
  
|
  Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins warms up before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on April 11, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images/AFP)
|
PITTSBURGH - It might not have been sympathy, exactly, but Brooks Orpik wasn't about to dump on a man in stripes who may have cost his team a playoff win.
The Penguins defenceman was one of the players on the ice when Flyers forward Daniel Briere scored Wednesday to trigger a four-goal burst and overtime win. Replays showed that Briere was a good stride offside.
"I know (linesman Tony Sericolo), he's a good guy and he made a mistake there," Orpik said. "I knew he didn't feel good about it. The replay was shown on the scoreboard enough times. I think he knew right away that he made a big mistake."
The league acknowledged Thursday that Sericolo blew the call, primarily because he was caught out of position to have the usual straight-on view of the blueline. An error like that could certainly cost the Troy, N.Y., official future post-season assignments.
"I knew it was offside right away because I was right on the blueline," Orpik said. "The one frustrating thing is that up to that point, (the Flyers) didn't have much going. In hindsight it gave them life, but we've just got to move on."
