NHL rules no supplemental discipline for Zach Bogosian’s elbow on Cody Eakin

Zach Bogosian’s elbow made contact with Washington Capitals rookie Cody Eakin’s head. That was enough to warrant a Thanksgiving Day hearing for the Winnipeg Jets forward with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan.

But not enough to warrant a suspension or fine.

Shanahan ruled Thursday that Bogosian would not receive any supplemental discipline for the hit, which seemed to daze Eakin but did not knock him out of the game. League spokesman John Dellapina revealed the decision in an email to The Washington Times.

“When Brendan looked at it, he believes that Bogosian was committed to a shoulder-to-shoulder hit just prior to contact, Eakin moves, and changes the position of his head,” Dellapina said in a phone interview seeking more details. “While the principle point of contact was his head, it was not targeted.”

Dellapina explained that Shanahan did not believe Bogosian’s hit was “intentional or reckless.”

Eakin practiced Thursday.

Dellapina said Shanahan had not yet ruled on the hit by New York Rangers forward Andre Deveaux on ex-Caps forward Tomas Fleischmann on Wednesday night. The Caps host the Rangers on Friday afternoon.

Semin talks return

Alexander Semin had a goal and a plus-2 rating Wednesday night in his return to the Caps’ lineup after being a healthy scratch. But perhaps the most important number to describe his performance was zero, as in zero penalties.

“The most important thing is that we won,” Semin said through an interpreter. “And I’m just happy that I didn’t pick up a penalty.”

Orlov picks up first point

Dmitry Orlov looked much more comfortable in his second NHL game than his first. He admitted as much Wednesday night after picking up his first career point and standing out as a physical presence in the Caps’ win.

“I think he’s been playing real good, and he’s moving the puck good — he’s skating, he’s hitting,” center Nicklas Backstrom said. “If you look at him out there, I don’t think it looks like he played his second game. It looks like he’s been playing a hundred games.”