ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have recalled defenseman Dmitry Orlov from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today.

Orlov, 20, has recorded nine points (four goals, five assists) and 12 penalty minutes in 15 games with Hershey and is tied for the team lead among defensemen in points while his four goals lead all Bears blueliners and are tied for third in the AHL among defensemen. He collected a goal and two assists for Hershey in last night’s 6-5 shootout loss against Albany.

Orlov, a 6’0”, 210-pound defenseman from Novokuznetsk, Russia, was Washington’s second-round selection, 55th overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He registered nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 19 games with Hershey last season and helped lead Team Russia to a gold medal at the 2011 World Junior Championships in Buffalo, recording nine points (one goal, eight assists) in seven games while being named to the tournament All-Star team.

In addition, Orlov represented Team Russia at the 2010 World Junior Championships and was one of Russia’s top three performers at the 2009 Under-18 World Championships.

Orlov, who will wear number 81 for Washington, will participate in Washington’s practice at 12:30 p.m. today at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

