chrisbb

The NHL has suspended for the fifth time this season a Philadelphia Flyers player, and for the first time, the league warned the team as well.


CBC Sports
Riley Cote was handed a three-game suspension on Monday for a brutal elbow on Dallas Stars Matt Niskanen late in Saturday's 4-1 Dallas victory. Cote was given a match penalty on the play.

Cote is the fifth Flyers player to be suspended through 25 games this season, joining Scott Hartnell, Randy Jones, Jesse Boulerice and Steve Downie on the suspension train.

On Monday, the NHL put Philadelphia's brass on notice as league commissioner Gary Bettman and disciplinarian Colin Campbell held a conference call with Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren.

"They're all different in their own right [the suspensions], but the fact that it's happened this number of times to us and hasn't happened to a lot of other teams, it's concerning to the league as it is to us," Holmgren told the Canadian Press.

"We've just got to play a little smarter. We want to play a hard game, an aggressive game, a physical game, but there's been instances where we've crossed the line.

"And we've just got to play more of a smart, physical game."

Last Tuesday, Hartnell was slapped with a two-game ban for a hit on Boston Bruins defenceman Andrew Alberts. Jones got two games for hitting Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron into the boards during an Oct. 27 contest.

Two other Philadelphia players were slapped with hefty suspensions for ugly incidents early this season.

Flyers forward Steve Downie was suspended 20 games after the 20-year-old prospect gave Ottawa Senators centre Dean McAmmond a concussion with a vicious hit in a pre-season game in September at Scotiabank Place.

McAmmond had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher.

Just over two weeks later, Philadelphia tough guy Jesse Boulerice got a 25-game suspension after cross-checking Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler in the head.

http://sports.sympatico.msn.cbc.ca/T...on-flyers-cote

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chrisbb

its about bloody time. im thinking the brutal hits were sanctioned by the team. wouldnt the coach be bitching guys out after the 3rd one?

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eagleclaw

Broad Street Bullies live again!!!! Fuckin' A!!!!

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disfigured

Have you seen the "hit"?

Pretty tame if you ask me. A penatly, possibly a one game suspension, tops.


I think most things within the context of playing the game should remain within the normal double minor/review 1 game suspension range.

As much as everyone was upset we may have lost Patrice Bergeron for the entire season from the Jone's hit, to me it was still within the context of the game.

Too many soccermoms out their crying victim, when ever anything happens. Then out come the Kennedy assassination break down the film examiners. As if they can determine intent with out being in the mind of the player. It's a fast and violent game played by men who are capable of vicious acts. Shit happens.

Yes things should be addressed and reviewed, but the people calling for 10 and 20 games for hits like this need to stick to their kid's little league games. You can't apply a children's mentality of morals to a league and sport where men are payed to win games, and do nearly what ever it takes to do so.

I don't care if the NHL can't showcase the most talented players because they haven't got the stones to take few shots now and then. That's the way it always was and the league was fine. I don't care if it's not palatable for the "average" new fan. I could give a shit if anyone new starts watching the NHL. For the most part if you make something palatable for the general public, you end up watering down. it's essence

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