November 27, 2007

The count is up to four. :
Stop me if you've heard this one before: A Philadelphia Flyer has been suspended by the league this season for an illegal hit that injured an opposing player.

read story | posted by grum@work to Hockey at 5:49 PM CDT (24 comments total)

Hartnell: "If you look at all the games this year and past years, I finish my checks every time I have an opportunity."

So if the Alberts was lying on the ice after making a pass, does that mean that Hartnell would have kneeled on him, or simply perform a jumping splash attack?

I think it's well known my feelings about the Flyers and their actions this year, so I won't reiterate them.

I do, however, look forward to the explanations on how hitting a man in the head while he's kneeling on the ice is "finishing a check".

posted by grum@work at 5:54 PM CDT on November 27

I passed on posting this because of my Boston bias, but this was an awful hit. Andy Brickley, yet another great Boston-area color man (and accent), criticized Alberts for going to his knees, but even that is no excuse. Alberts head was already on the dasher when Hartnell sticks his hip and elbow in to help. Would have liked to have seen the Bruins respond with something more than an empty-net goal, but that's hockey nowadays, not like the good old days alluded to by one YouTube commenter:

Y THE FUCK SHUD HE GET A MILL ITS HOCKEY EVERY1 HITS! EVERYTIME DOMI HIT SOME1 AND THEY GOT NAILED HE SHUD PAY EVERY1 A MILL?? NO THAT IS HOW HOCKEY IS NOW ITS NOT THE FRICKING 70's WERE EVERY1 WAS SOFT EXPECT FOR THE "BULLIES" OR THE " FLYER GOONS" THATS HOW WE WERE DEAL WIF IT IF U DNT LIEK HOW THEY PLAY DNT WATCH IT!

GO FLYERS GO

Two games is not enough to stop this kind of stuff.

posted by yerfatma at 6:39 PM CDT on November 27

Two games isn't enough to stop this stuff, but no suspension will. Until a players own teammates shun him and his actions, it will continue.

To see what I mean, think about it this way: Sean Avery doesn't care less what Don Cherry or Wade Belak say. And he'll pay lip service to Colin Campbell, but that's just for show. The only thing that will get him to stop acting like a complete fool is when one of his own teammates says that, 'he wants to strangle him'. Then, Avery's ears perk up and he understands he needs to change.

The refs can call penalties and the league can suspend, but not until teammates call a player out these checks will continue.

Instead of that, they choose to call him a "hard-nosed player" or say he's "finishing his check". And it goes on.

posted by 86 at 7:08 PM CDT on November 27

Incredible. I echo grum's statements completely.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 8:08 PM CDT on November 27

I've been watching alot of the NHL network lately. It's been fun to look back at some of those teams in the 80s and 90s. And it seemed like every player knew when a Tony Twist or a Darin Kimble or Bob Probert was on the ice. I miss the days of the enforcers..............they did seem to keep everyone else a little more honest.
Back to my point, sorry, That was a cheap shot on Alberts.period. And I agree with yerfatma- two games is NOT enough.
I do think if the NHL could combine a suspension with no pay, it might send a louder message.

posted by BoKnows at 8:08 PM CDT on November 27

That hit was frickin ridiculous. Unbelievable. I think a month's worth of games would be a good place to start when deciding how long that guy should be suspended.

posted by brainofdtrain at 8:47 PM CDT on November 27

I'm a huge Boston homer, so my opinion should be taken with a grain of salt, I guess. Having said that, I watched that hit many, many times, and still: Two games? Really?

I tried to be nice about the Jones hit on Bergeron, because maybe it was an honest mistake. We're at the point now where there's no excuse for any more cheap-shots. It would be one hell of a coincidence if once in every five games or so one of the Flyers just happens to take liberties with an opposing team's player by accident.

It would be one thing if they were the Broad Street Bullies of yesteryear, but they aren't beating opponents with their fists, they're blindsiding them. That's not tough. It's cowardly.

posted by Samsonov14 at 8:48 PM CDT on November 27

I have watched the video over and over. Yes he was hit but it wasn't that devestating or cheap. One player skating full speed to deliver a check and he (Hartnell) definitely held up, another (Alberts) on his knees for little reason. There was no clear attempt to injure. What the hell was Alberts doing on his knees against the boards trying to control a puck when Flyers are arriving full speed anyway? It was a hip against a man on his knees...a hockey player on his knees has no reason unless he is a goaltender. Otherwise he is just stupid. The Broad Strret Bullies are baaaaaaack! Go Flyers.

posted by urall cloolis at 11:02 PM CDT on November 27

Yes he was hit but it wasn't that devestating or cheap.

Well, it was devastating enough to send Alberts to the hospital for observation, and cheap enough that Hartnell got a 5 minute penalty, a game misconduct, and a two-game suspension.

he (Hartnell) definitely held up

Except, he didn't hold up. He hit him. He hit a guy that was already on his knees. And he used his elbow. That's not "holding up".

There was no clear attempt to injure.

Except for the "elbow in the head and driving his opponent's skull into the boards" thing.

The Broad Strret Bullies are baaaaaaack! Go Flyers.

As Samsonov14 points out, they aren't like the Bullies at all. It's more like the Broad Street Blind-Siders.

posted by grum@work at 11:57 PM CDT on November 27

a hockey player on his knees has no reason unless he is a goaltender

Never seen anyone block a shot before? How about a defenseman faced with a 2-on-1? If you think Hartnell held up or didn't try to hurt Alberts, you're blinded by your loyalty, which is fine, but don't try to talk about facts then. And don't complain when someone holds up and doesn't intend to injure a Flyer in that manner.

posted by yerfatma at 6:33 AM CDT on November 28

The video I saw on youtube was at a bad angle and not much leading up to the hit. I saw it from a different angle late last night and agree it was on the cheap-side, he had time to stop or change directions.

posted by urall cloolis at 7:06 AM CDT on November 28

He drove his hip through the side of Alberts' skull. The same force can knock a professional athlete off his feet, on or off ice. I'm surprised the helmet didn't crack.

What happened to suspensions getting longer throughout the season? When Downie got 20, I suspected things were going to change. Guess not, eh?

posted by garfield at 1:31 PM CDT on November 28

Hartnell clearly rotates so that his elbow is lined up with Alberts. Given that he did that, he could also have spun away and missed or (just grazed) him. Awful and completely disrespectful of his opponent.

I'd suspend him 10-20 for that, and it's time to start suspending the coaching staff too. If their paychecks are hit maybe they'll start corralling the idiots they put on the ice.

posted by stevis at 2:17 PM CDT on November 28

Okay - absolutely a bad hit. I'm not sure the intention was to cripple the guy, but he shouldn't have finished that check. No doubt. Two games seems low, I'm not sure what the league saw there that I didn't.

However - I wish that we were so eager to talk about the other stories in the league this year. Everything is about bad hits. There are lots of other interesting things going on that I think warrant a little attention.

Does anyone realize that Kovalchuk is on pace for almost 70? That we have 7 guys heading to 50+? The emergence of the Hawks is great news, too. As is the growth of Mike Richards - an honest to goodness great story with the Flyers. I watched a game of theirs last week and Richards does everything.

Also - the Leafs suuuuuuuuuuuuuck. That alone should make a lot of people happy.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:09 PM CDT on November 29

The Hawks?

posted by yerfatma at 1:03 PM CDT on November 29

Are you kidding, fatty? Chicago should be on your "must watch" list anytime they're playing.

posted by 86 at 4:24 PM CDT on November 29

I was kidding. Already seen them once this year.
"I did know I couldn't do that, Dave."

posted by yerfatma at 5:18 PM CDT on November 29

I wish that we were so eager to talk about the other stories in the league this year. Everything is about bad hits.

Well, if the Flyers would stop doing this sh*t every two weeks or so, maybe we could talk about something else.

posted by grum@work at 6:24 PM CDT on November 29

However - I wish that we were so eager to talk about the other stories in the league this year. Everything is about bad hits. There are lots of other interesting things going on that I think warrant a little attention.

I think everyone is willing to talk about the other stories, I know I am. But if you read a blog about the Flyers "aggressive" play, then the posts will likely be about that subject.

"Thank you, caller." - Mr. Obvious

posted by BoKnows at 7:17 PM CDT on November 29

DirtiestMotherfuckersInTheLeague.com coming soon.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 7:46 PM CDT on November 29

Seriously, the Blackhawks are must-watch hockey. It's 5-0 tonight and twelve minutes have elapsed. Dustin Byfuglien has a natural hat-trick.

posted by 86 at 8:03 PM CDT on November 30

The Flyers just keep at it. Anyone else see Riley Cote's late flying elbow on Matt Niskanen last night? Was that just finishing his check, or was it a deliberate attempt to deliver a blow to the head of an opponent who wasn't (nor should have been, under the circumstances) defending himself. There really is a lot of great stuff going on in the NHL this year, not the least of which is the Flyers re-emergence as a legitimate contender, but when shit like this happens so continuously, it's hard to ignore.

And to toss in a little fanboy. Think Philly has noticed that the Devs hav rattled off five straight wins, with Brodeur posting a couple of shutouts along the way?

posted by tahoemoj at 1:42 PM CDT on December 2

Cote gets a three game suspension for the aforementioned hit. That brings the count up to five.

posted by MrFrisby at 1:57 PM CDT on December 3

Cote gets a three game suspension for the aforementioned hit. That brings the count up to five.

Holy f*ck. I didn't even hear about that one.
I just watched the video. That's ridiculous. It was such an attempt to injure with the elbow. He JUMPED and led with his elbow.

The league has to start fining/suspending the team management.
Hell, they should have been fining/suspending the team management 2 hits ago.

posted by grum@work at 6:58 PM CDT on December 3

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