Flyers reincarnate Reg Dunlop, pummel Panthers 5-1; David Booth hospitalized
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2009 9:51 PM EDT
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Shoulders were flying high for Philadelphia, as the home team literally knocked the collective head off of Florida.
Forget the final score: Mike Richard's "collision" with David Booth was not unexpected simply in its occurance, only in it's ferocity.
Booth, scrambling into the offensive zone in the second period, began to turn his head toward Richards and the considerable momentum he was carrying, taking a high shoulder to the face, knocking him headfirst to the ice, and left motionless for several seconds.
This was not the first issue of the evening: Tollefson on Dominic Moore early in the first (drawing a two-way bloody nose), a knee-on-knee to Radek Dvorak later, who left the game. Rookie Dmitry Kulikov was later targeted with a face-first drive into the boards.
Just another night in the City of Brotherly Love. Barbarians.
Nuts and bolts? Cats played far better than the score reflected through two periods. They were quick, improvisational, and above all prepared. Just not for what transpired.
Gonna continue searching for news on Booth and Dvorak, which will post as I locate it. Go Cats, and our thoughts are with David and Radek.
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Can’t believe how many folks on other boards are saying that was an acceptable hit.
Godspeed to both our downed felines.
Seeing that too. I’ll get back to ya on it.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2009 10:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Care to tell me how it wasn’t an acceptable hit?
Let's go Flyers!
by OrangeAndBlackk on Oct 24, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Richards brought the shoulder up at the last moment; knew what he was doing. This wasn’t a case of driving at a forward tearing into the offensive zone with his head down.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
This doesn’t even make sense…
Let's go Flyers!
by OrangeAndBlackk on Oct 24, 2009 11:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Care to debate the hits on Moore, Dvorak, and Kulikov while we’re at it?
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I was at the game and I’ve watched the video numerous times. I still can’t see where this is a dirty hit. It’s legal by every rule in the book. Richards doesn’t raise his shoulder, either. He lowers it.
The only reason he will be suspended is because it was a head shot, and if the NHL wants to keep their word and “consistently discipline against” them, they have no choice but to suspend Richards.
Let's go Flyers!
by OrangeAndBlackk on Oct 24, 2009 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
watch the video in slow motion. His body DOES go up….his body continued in an upward motion even after the check.
Normally, when you hit a person, you drop your shoulder, then raise your shoulder to complete the check. Richards did both of those. As I said, by every rule in the book, this is a clean hit.
Let's go Flyers!
by OrangeAndBlackk on Oct 24, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
No. When you hit someone you drop your shoulder and then drive it horizontally through their center mass. There is no reason to aim up, it takes away force and leverage. It’s the way you hit in hockey, tackle in football, and even the way you hit a baseball. Richards aimed up.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
Agreed.
However, the horizontal motion of your body also causes you to move vertically, as well. As slight as it may be.
Let's go Flyers!
by OrangeAndBlackk on Oct 24, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes he lowered the shoulder going in BUT he didn’t keep it down. He raised it back up right into his head.
No shit his shoulder came back up when he hit him. That is how you hit….
Do you play hockey?
I’m sure Richards’ intention was to hit a guy 2" taller than him in the head. You’re absolutely right.
Let's go Flyers!
by OrangeAndBlackk on Oct 24, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Richards is 5’11" and Booth is 6’. Booth was basically in an upright skating stance so he wasn’t leaning his head down to shoulder area. Physics and fundamentals dictate that Richards should have put his shoulder right into the middle of Booth’s chest, but somehow the shorter guy gets the taller guy right in the head with his shoulder.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
Shoulder came up for the hit, then down immediately after. I agree Richards is not a dirty player based upon his history, but he was gunning for Booth’s head. Got to admit every Panther had a target painted on his chest tonight.
Legal or not, this falls into “dirty” territory. I could complain in post after post – whining – about Flyers running the Cats all evening, but there’s not much question as to the intent by Richards based on the video.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
absolutely his body leans into the hit, his shoulder does go up. but forget that….how is there NO RETALIATION? and this isn’t the first time…
That may be the most relevant question of the night. Hearing it all over.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2009 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions
lol hockey in florida
Let's go Flyers!
by OrangeAndBlackk on Oct 24, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions
How is that relevant?
It’s virtually the same exact hit, deemed clean by the league at the time, and nobody in Philadelphia called for a suspension on Stevens. Happened all the time in pre-lockout NHL.
Lindros had his head down and he paid for it.
Let's go Flyers!
by OrangeAndBlackk on Oct 24, 2009 11:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Well for one, notice how a shorter guy hit a taller guy in center mass, and did not continue launching vertically. That’s because the force was horizontal to the chest, not vertical to the head. For two, Flyers fans bitch about this hit to no end.
It’s not the same exact hit because a) Lindros still had the puck and b) Lindros was skating right at Stevens; it wasn’t a blindside. Not to mention the utter lack of jumping on Stevens’ part.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
It is not the same hit. Lindros put his head well down, where Booth simply turned his while Richards redirected into the check.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 24, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Flyers fan here
Just want to send a good luck message to Booth, I think him and Horton are two of the most underrated players in the league and hope that it isn’t a serious concussion or anything else that would alter his play. I also think that it was a dirty hit, but that doesn’t mean it was intentional, it just happened. Anybody that follows hockey knows that Richie is a clean player who was just trying to make a play. I think a 3 game suspension should be the appropriate punishment for it, maybe a fine to Richie but not the organization. but again, i do send best wishes to Booth and hope he can get back soon.
Dissapointing.
Philadelphia goes quiet after the hit. Not a sound to be heard for the five minutes the man is laying on the ice. A slow sign of movement, and the crowd cheers. He gets lifted onto the stretcher, and the fans pay Booth and the medical staff due respect.
Richards and Stevens both express their sympathy and well wishes to Booth afterwards, expressing their regret at the consequences of a clean, solid hit.
The Florida response?
“Barbarians.”
Dissapointing.
I’m a half-hearted Panthers fan, to boot. Spent a year and a half in Miami, and attended several games. While I can’t exactly voice my overwhelming admiration for an arena that fields cheerleaders, I’ve always thought the Panthers had a loyal, passionate, and intelligent fanbase.
The reaction here is starting to change my mind.
by BroadStreetBully on Oct 25, 2009 12:10 AM EDT reply actions
Wasn’t referring to the fans, BSB. Shouldn’t need to clarify that.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 25, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions
And the “Florida” response was mine alone. I speak for myself and no one else on this site.
I do – as always – appreciate your comments, but they should be directed to me, not the Panthers’ fanbase as a collective whole.
“Barbarians” was a reference to the tactics and style of play employed by the Flyers tonight. Witness the injuries to Booth, Radek Dvorak, and (temporarily) Dominic Moore.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 25, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions
Should probably include Kulikov in there as well.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 25, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
In the end, call it a problem I have with coach John Stevens.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 25, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions
That’s one thing I can sympathize with. Sometimes I really despise that melancholic prick.
by BroadStreetBully on Oct 25, 2009 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Should have watched him as a player with the Whalers. Ugh.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 25, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
When you’re the go-to blog for listening to the Panthers fan voice, you speak for the fans. I’m not turning this into a fight or an axe to grind against Floridians, but it’s just the way it is.
The Bullies clearly have a history of playing rough and dirty hockey, but they haven’t actually played rough and dirty hockey in a decade and a half. Unfortunately for their fans, the reputation sticks with them, and they get a stronger reaction when any play could conceivably be thought of as showing poor gamesmanship, such as the ones tonight.
Booth had the puck. He could have controlled it, but chose to let it by, but decided to check his laces for just a few seconds longer, rather then keeping his head up. Several games ago both JVR and Betts were put out for similar injuries. We didn’t blame other teams or players, we just took it as part of the game and hoped they’d recover as quickly as possible.
When it comes down to it, Booth’s injury didn’t cause the cats to go 0 and 5 on the PP.
Dvorak’s injury didn’t cause the cats to be outshot 15 to 2 in the 2nd and a combined 7 to 28 in the 2nd and 3rd, no more then Moore’s injury caused them to give up 40% of their PK.
by BroadStreetBully on Oct 25, 2009 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions
While I dispute the accusation of Booth checking his laces (which did get a chuckle), I agree the Cats fell down the toilet before this injury.
And indeed, I may represent the collective voice of a certain pocket of Panthers fandom. If they disagree with my take, I welcome the rebuttals, and if submitted, I’ll post ’em up – front page – in a FanShot. No power struggle here.
No one is blaming this loss on Mike Richards…but understandably, it doesn’t look good down here. You called it yourself at BSB when you stated “how would we like it if our top guy was taken out?”. A solid comment.
However, Philadelphia can survive the loss of Briere, or Richards, or Carter, or Pronger, etc. There’s always someone to step in. Regardless of the reasons for it, the Panthers aren’t structured that way. The loss of one guy…be it Booth or Nick Tarnasky (currently out)…affects the entire organization. Call it what you will, but that’s just the way it is. Emotions are bound to erupt from the fans, and rightfully so; at least when kept respectful.
Anyway, this could be one of those deals that goes on for ages…and truthfully, the Panthers need a rival.
In any case, we ALL hope Booth and Dvorak are far better in the morning.
by Donny Rivette on Oct 25, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions
D’oh. Link.
If consequences dictate the course of action, then it doesn't matter what's right, it's only wrong if you get caught. If consequences dictate the course of action, then I should play God...
From ON FROZEN POND
looks like we might bet getting a rival….
Sexton had said that the Richards hit was dirty and a number of his players – including Bryan Allen and Keith Ballard – agreed. Sexton’s quotes were relayed to Philadelphia general manager Paul Holmgren and he defended his player.
‘’Randy Sexton needs to watch more hockey games,’’ Holmgren said. ’’It’s a good hit. Mike Richards was just doing his job.’’
Responded Sexton: ’’I’m not going to get into a war of words with Paul. He has his own opinions.’’
forget about the consequences and the injuries, i’m obviously distraught over Booth going down like that, but the lack of retaliation bothers me most…our star, the face of the panthers, gets wrecked and no one cares to fight back. someone made a valid point that we would have been seriously outmanned had we fought back, but wasn’t the loss of Booth enough to accomplish that anyways? maybe they thought to keep it inside instead and will bring that fire to the next few games. it’s gonna be a loooong season.
All the best to Booth
I’m a Flyers fan. I think based on history, and what the league has previously deemed acceptable that was a legal hit. It seems this year there has been talk of changing that in regards to hits to the head(not a bad idea). I don’t think it’s Richies fault. There isn’t a mo re honest, play be the book type player in the game.I think it’ll be a real shame if they decide to make an example of him because of this. If they would clearly define new rules and make the players aware of them I bet Richards wouldn’t have made the hit the way he did. Instead things are left vague until events like this occur that bring them to a head and only then are decisions made.
With that said my heart and prayers go out to the Booth and his family. It’s never good to see a player get injured like that…unless your a Buffalo fan and Campbell knocks out Umberger in overtime of Game 1 in 2006. I was at the game and the Buffalo fans were cheering as they re-played the hit on the jumbo-tron. It was disgusting.
First off, after watching the hit, I can’t out and out say it was dirty. In the context of the game, we were getting pounded everywhere. I’m just a fan, so what do I know, but I suspect in the back rooms of the NHL, word is spreading that our team is soft. And, in the end, when you’re at home and the blood is flowing, stuff like this happens. ESPECIALLY, when there are no repercussions. And, there weren’t. And, that’s what I find disheartening. It’s bad enough to lose ugly, but there’s no grit, no fight. Booth has been put head-first into the boards a couple times already this season. And, our response, when we have one, is to send Greg Campbell out there. Really?
As far as rivalry goes, I don’t think we have one with anybody, much less Philly. Seriously, the Flyers just handed us our ass on the scoreboard and on the ice. It’s not a rivalry when one side gets a beating. The 4-2 win at home was not nearly a dominating performance.
Frankly, I’m not sure what could get worse for this team. We’re 2-6-1. Of the 6 losses, 4 have been downright embarassing. They can’t get out of their own way to start games at home. Now, Booth is gone for who knows how long. Our team is soft as a baby’s butt. One of our best skaters in Dvorak is likely gone for a while (and writing that 30-something Dvorak is one of our best players really freaks me out). Anderson is lighting it up in Colorado. Seriously, what could get worse?
Yeah, I’ll be there Wednesday for Ottawa, but honestly, is it any surprsie to anybody out there, why the Panthers don’t draw? It’ll be 10 years this season if/when they fail to make the playoffs. It’s not that South Florida doesn’t deserve a team. It’s that the fans, the hardcore fans that come out night after night to watch this crap deserve a team worth rooting for.
I don’t see what’s going to change. It’s going to be a loooong season if it doesn’t.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida
|
55 | 27 | 17 | 11 | 65 |
|
Washington
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|
Winnipeg
|
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Tampa Bay
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Carolina
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New York Rangers
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54 | 36-13-5 | 77 |
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Boston Bruins
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53 | 34-17-2 | 70 |
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Florida Panthers
|
55 | 27-17-11 | 65 |
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Philadelphia Flyers
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56 | 31-18-7 | 69 |
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Pittsburgh Penguins
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56 | 32-19-5 | 69 |
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New Jersey Devils
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Ottawa Senators
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58 | 28-22-8 | 64 |
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Toronto Maple Leafs
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Washington Capitals
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Winnipeg Jets
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57 | 26-25-6 | 58 |
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New York Islanders
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Buffalo Sabres
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Carolina Hurricanes
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