It seems like no Philadelphia Flyer can finish a check these days without earning a fine and a suspension.
The latest offender is Scott Hartnell, whose awkward hit on Andrew Alberts left the latter writhing on the ice.
The Flyers were losing 5-2 late in the second period when Alberts led with his head and body in playing a puck against the boards. Hartnell slowed down before the collision, but couldn't avoid doing damage.
Most players would have gone in with a stick or glove to retrieve the puck in the situation—but not Alberts. Hartnell said on the Flyers' website that it’s his style to finish his checks—but that any injury he caused to Alberts was purely accidental.
“If you look at the video and the time of the game, I wasn’t trying to hurt the guy,” Hartnell said. “I pulled up and just tried to rub into the guy, but his head was right on that dasher board there. It was unfortunate.”
The NHL handed Hartnell a two-game suspension. Other Flyers have been hit with stiffer with penalties.
Jesse Boulerice was suspended 25 games after breaking his stick on Ryan Kesler’s jaw with a high cross-check. Steve Downie was banned for 20 games after he went airborne at 60 MPH to slam an unsuspecting Dean McAmmond.
Both attacks were brutal, and the punishments were well deserved. But those two unfortunate plays have made Philadelphia an undeserving target of the league office.
The Flyers have always been known for playing aggressive hockey, and this year is no exception. But the fact is that many other teams deliver hard checks—and none of them are as scrutinized as the Flyers are.
Serious injuries are never welcome in the NHL, but sometimes it's the injured players themselves who create dangerous situations. In cases like those, the punishment should go to the victim.
For example, if a player were to see an opponent coming and turn his back to the hit, he should be fined for dangerous play.
It's a defenseman’s job to finish his check. Holding up only creates the potential for sneaky plays—and an unfair advantage for the opposition.
As I see it, a player who puts himself in a dangerous position is no less guilty than a player who dives to get a penalty call.
It’s inexcusable—and it shouldn't go in the NHL.
8 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Anonymous about 1 year ago
This article would sit better with a whole lot of people if it were true that the NHL was looking closely at all hits. How about Sutton's late elbow on Kukkonen as the game ended? How about Phaneuf the other night? It's unfair to put a microscope on one team while others get away with a lot.
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Timothy W about 1 year ago
A valid point
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Mark Marino about 1 year ago
I agree for the most-part, however, with the Flyers this isn't the case.
Hartnell could have stopped on a dime or turned up ice. He check his head, for christ-sake.
Trying to blame Alberts in this case is just down-right frivolous.
Other teams are not getting away with it, this isn't a conspiracy. Mattias Ohlund just got suspended, right?
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Timothy W about 1 year ago
The more I look at the replay, the more I side with both players, If that makes any sense, yes, I will agree Hartnell could have avoiding putting his elbow or forearm into his head, obviously he could have, but what was Alberts thinking? why would he even put himself in a vulnerable position.
Also, I agree Philadelphia isn't the only team that is being suspended, but the heat from the light is a little much
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Uhm, maybe cause Colin Campbell used to coach the Rangers he learned to dislike the Flyers and therefore he is fining them, because he couldn't beat them on the ice.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Not saying it's a "conspiracy", it's an unfair microscope on one team in particular. Do you really think that 4 games for Ohlund attacking someone with a stick resulting in a broken leg is an equal punishment to Boulerice attacking someone with a stick (resulting luckily in no injury) and getting 25 games? There is a disparity here.
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Timothy W about 1 year ago
Exactly
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Travis Loftis about 1 year ago
I think that a lot of people don't realize that while the Western Conference teams don't get a lot of attention from the top writers, it goes both ways. I think if Ohlund played for any Eastern team (Or Dallas, Detroit, or Colorado), he gets more than 4 games. Boulerice definitely deserved every game of his 25 game suspension if Simon got 25 for what he did to Hollweg. Ohlund probably deserved 15-25.
Honestly, I miss the old days when if you hurt a guy, your suspension was as long as that guy was injured. One could see teams then have guys faking injuries, but back in the days of old when teams were more honest, meh. Broken leg? Out 1-2 months? You're suspended 1-2 months.
To the point of the article, Hartnell finishes his checks. But that was a clear cut situation of a check you do not finish. You see big numbers and a name - you don't hit. Simple as that.
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