This Pro Hockey Fight Was So Big, Even the Coaches Almost Came to Blows
- Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:05am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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You’ve likely seen hockey fights before. And in general (but not always), the biggest fights nowadays take place in the semi-pro leagues. On Sunday, however, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers were sure to give their fans a show with an all out, multiplayer brawl that even featured the opposing coaches nearly coming to blows.
With the game all-but-over with about one minute left in the third period and the Flyers up by three goals, things got ugly. Pittsburgh’s Joe Vitale laid a massive hit on a Flyer player Danny Briere and all hell broke loose. Pay special attention near the 20-second mark when you see the coaches stand up on the boards and nearly come to blows:
“Those guys hadn’t been out there in 12 minutes,” Flyer’s Coach Peter Laviolette said, referring to the fourth line of players on the ice, generally enforcers used for hard hits. “It’s a gutless move by their coach. It’s gutless.”
But Pittsbrugh’s move might have been in retaliation for an earlier play by the Flyers, when one of their players took a questionable shot at Penguins’ star Sidney Crosby who has been sidelined much of the year with a concussion.
“It’s pretty cheap,” Crosby said of the hit. “He skates 10 feet in between the whistle. I don’t know. If that‘s a sign of what’s to come it’s going to be a pretty tough playoff series.”
(H/T: Business Insider)
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Comments (73)
brohm0103
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:19pmDavid1333, maybe you should get informed. I did watch the entire game and that’s simply untrue.
Report Post »Guitar Master
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 1:10pmzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
THE REPORTER’S View
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
If only there could be this kind of enthusiasm at the voting booths !
Unfortunately, the American people care more about their really stupid sports than they do about who is squandering their tax dollars. Just pathetic.
Report Post »South Philly Boy
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 12:51pmJust like the Old Broad Street Bullies
Report Post »LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 9:22amAmen :-)
Report Post »wianno94
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:49amMy nephew was just protecting his players. Go Flyers.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:28amHere you go!
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjo_SfycR_A&feature=related
Unix
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:38amWent to see a fight and a hockey game broke out, what’s news?
Report Post »CanadianMan
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:59amWatch the Flyers coach at 0:11 grab a hockey stick and break it over the glass towards the Penguins bench.
Very bad sportsmanship by the Flyers – after stoppage of play just minutes before this happened a rookie on Flyers skated up behind Sidney Crosby – captain of the Penguins and cross checked him from behind knocking him to the ice.
They play each other again this upcoming Sat and I expect they will be back in the news again – Flyers are sore loosers… even when they are winning.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:21amThe best play of the day was Scott Hartnell giving the Hulk Hogan routine to the fan in the stands! Hilarious!!
Report Post »DAVIDE1333
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:35amCANADIANMAN- I know this is not a sports page but if you are going to make a misinformed statement let me correct you. The reason Shenn crosschecked Crosby was because Crosby broke two sticks in the game slashing Flyers’ players. I doubt you watched the game to know that.
Report Post »Heather Mae 74
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:38amSo unless you aren’t Ron Paul your not conservative? Screw Ron Paul it was ROSS PEROT who called it showed it on easy to understand pie charts and you idiots ruined our country by wasting your votes on dole and bush.
Report Post »CanadianMan
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:40amThat’s part of playing – also happened during normal play… not 10 seconds after stoppage of play.
Report Post »I watched the game very closely so … no it was not misinformed. If the Flyers were so upset about it then you send your Captain out there to defend… not your newbie.
Heather Mae 74
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:42amAWESOME that was golden philly always p[lays dirty it’s about time that the pens smacked them in the mouth. Want to see more gold google pen’s goalie Johnson last year fighting Islanders goalie.
Report Post »lars1701c
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:55amCanadianman, you must not know hockey you dont send your capt out to punish someone other player, you send out a goon and/or a fighter to “enforce” the rules.
Report Post »AJ_T
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 12:55pmCanadianman is 100% correct. What Schenn did to Crosby was downright cowardly. First, Crosby didn’t slash any Flyer – he slashed their sticks…..big difference! And, if you have a problem with that, then be a MAN and don’t sneak up behind a guy well after the whistle and give him a blindsided crosscheck in the back. Schenn is a complete coward.
Report Post »You do that to ANY team’s star player and you can be assured there will be repercussions!
So Bylsma sends out the 4th line and Vitale lays a huge but completely LEGAL and CLEAN check on Briere. I guess it’s OK for Flyers to cheapshot the Pens star, but not OK for a Pen to make a clean hit on their star?
BTW….the Flyers lost the fighting end of this. Engelland destroyed Simmonds and the coward Schenn would have been killed by Asham if someone didn’t come and save him.
Rowgue
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 2:24pmSlashing the stick in the manner he was doing it is just as violent and dangerous, which is why it’s a penalty when the officials catch it. Guys get hurt all the time from bozos trying to slash their sticks and not hitting their mark.
Report Post »AdamantiumVorlon
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:52pmTo Canadian
If you bothered to actually watch the game, Malkin throughout the game threw punches after the whistles and at one point in the game cheapshotted Giroux in the back of his head when he was on the ice, also Cindy Crosby (the NHL’s biggest whiner and fall down Queen and favorite player of Bettman) was slashing players left and right (he even slashed Schenn who was retaliating when he hit Crosby) so much he broke his own stick, yet no calls were made. Surprisingly, even the NBC announcers made mention of it. Also, Vitale hit Knee to knee on D man Grossman before hitting Briere.
The Penquins are the dirtiest biggest Whiners in the NHL, but get away with it because they are protected by Bettman. 10 years ago the team almost MOVED from the city due to no one wanting to see them, so the NHL fleeced to the taxpayers of PA to help poor old Lemiux with his finances, give him a new stadium and then stacked the draft lottery to give them multiple number 1 picks to “restock” their system. Now here we are with thugs like Malkin, Vitale, Asham and of course a Whiner fall down king Crosby being touted as elite. Give me a break!
Before you denigrate the Flyers, please know what you are talking about.
Report Post »AJ_T
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:51pmAdamantiumVorlon: Maybe YOU should get YOUR facts straight before saying someone else doesn’t know what they are talking about.
Report Post »(A) The Penguins being protected by Bettman? Hilariously ridiculous whining. Is that why Cooke was suspended 17 games last year? Niskanen and Letang suspended this year? Conspiracy theories only make you sound like whiners in Philly.
(B) The Penguins were never going to leave Pittsburgh because of lack of fans. They were PROMISED a new arena when the Steelers and Pirates got theirs. The politicians reneged on that promise. Lemieux had to threaten to leave to make people pay attention. And not a single penny of taxpayer’s money went into building the new arena!
(C) As far as drafting #1 goes…the Pens didn’t finish last and there was a LOTTERY so even if they did, they weren’t guaranteed first draft pick. They did win that lottery and chose Crosby (who wouldn’t?)…that’s the way the draft is supposed to work. Malkin was #2 (Ovechkin was #1). Most every Penguin came through their system or was a trade. If you have a problem with how the draft works, then complain about every team that’s ever gotten the #1 pick and while you are at it, complain about the NFL Draft system which works almost exactly the same way (team that finishes last automatically gets #1 pick, but the NHL still has a lottery for #1 even if you finish last).
LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 9:25am@CanadianMan
Wow, what a poor excuse of a Canadian if you don’t understand how or why this all happened. Thank you @DAVIDE1333 for painting the picture for this marginal hockey follower.
Report Post »666Sucks
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:23amGETREALMAN, why don’t. You are a liberal poster child! How man last place trophies for lawn bowling do you have? Hockey is man’s sport, you need to spend more time on the cooking channel where you can‘t get escard’!
Report Post »TantoRocks
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:07amYou have just watched a trailer for the 2012 general election.
It will get ugly, and it will get bloody. At least with hockey, the fans do not feel the affects 3 yrs after the fight.
Report Post »The MAFS
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:05amHey, The Blaze, we can tell you don’t watch hockey when you post a story that did not even make the lead article on NHL.com. Stick with your familiar territory please, it‘s sad to watch you try and understand hockey from such a beginner’s perspective.
Report Post »Quagmir
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:39amHey The Mafs, It is the lead video on the Flyers top Pens tab. The second Tab. What Lead video on the game isnt good enough for you? Being a Doushe is though.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:00amWhen they started playing European hockey – i stopped watching.
Report Post »In the days of real hockey early 60′s – Philly and the Bruins – it was heads up hockey!!!
lars1701c
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:56amSid slashes a flyer 3 times and doesnt get a penalty so he gets cross checked, suck it up sid.
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 4:06pmUmm, Sid didn’t complain. He got right back up and kept playing. Jealous much?
Report Post »CAINISABLE
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:48amCanman32, you must have missed the part about 3 seconds before Schenn crosschecked Sindy. Ask yourself why would the Flyer player go and do that to the golden boy in plain view of every official out there? Maybe becasue Sindy gave him a shot? Also, did you see Sindy, as he was falling, looking for the ref to see if a penalty was called. Besides, I don’t think that little shove could have knocked you down, let alone a world class athlete like Sindy. Also, if I’m not mistaken, Sindy broke a few sticks on slashes of his own. Malkin practically mugged Giroux in the corner. Not saying the Flyers are innocent. They aren’t by any means, but please take off you black and gold glasses.
Report Post »LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 9:27am@CAINISABLE
Exactly. NBC during the replay of Schenn’s shove on Crosby neglected to inform the audience about the non-sense that Crosby was doing all game. As skillful as Crosby is, he’s a pathetic player and deserves back what he dishes out.
Report Post »Joe1123
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:43amAnother sensational headline. What a surprise. This “brawl” was nothing compared to the days of “real hockey” (late 1960s thru mid-70s or so). Now nearly every player has a shield covering his face and players get thrown out, suspended for barely touching someone. Meanwhile, players, almost kill each other with dirty hits. I say eliminate that (dirty hits from behind, with sticks etc.) and bring back the fighting. You’d have a much healthier sport. And a lot more fun to watch.
Report Post »GetRealMan
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:30amJust another example of how stupid and barbaric “professional” hockey is. In what other sport would this be tolerated?
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:38amBoxing.
Report Post »john luther
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:45amBOO HOO .Those mean nasty hockey players are just animals .Give me a break its a game
Report Post »Joe1123
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:48amIt’s that kind of thinking that gave us the watered-down sport of the NHL today. Why not put tutus on them and figure skates while you’re at it?
Report Post »Hrothgar
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:50amThe best sports are the ones that have a degree of violence in them. They are usually the most popular too (football). Fighting in hockey is like dunks in basketball they go together PB&J, Sid and Nancy, Ike and Tina, Bobby and Whitney.
Report Post »darkknight91
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:46amThis is stupid and barbaric? You don’t watch hockey, do ya? This is nothing. The Blaze doesn’t watch hockey neither if they think this is a “brawl”.
Report Post »Quagmir
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:40amUFC mma
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:22amHeck that’s nothing. YouTube Detroit and Colorado brawl ‘97, and ‘98.
Of course, those days are gone since the NHL will now fine the coaches, owners, and who knows…perhaps even the fans if brawls like those happen again.
Report Post »Hockeytown
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:43amThe fights between us and Colorado were awesome. Even the goalies got into it. I was at the game where Chris Osgood and Patrick Roy fought. Good stuff!!
Report Post »Hockeytown
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:46amThe fights between us and Colorado were awesome, even the goalies got involved. I was at the game when Chris Osgood and Patrick Roy fought and it was great!! Claude Lemieux was a big baby and turtled.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 5:49pmHeck yeah, I caught both those games at the bar. Place went WILD. Good times, and will be a looong time ’till there’s another rivalry like that one.
Report Post »LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 9:32am@Hockeytown
I’m a Flyers Fan being from the Delaware Valley and watching the Avs/Wings playoffs was simply awesome! Thank God for You Tube so I can watch it anytime I want. Of course I hate the fact your team swept my team in 97 :-(
Report Post »poster
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:04amLet’s Go PENS!
Report Post »VaVetVoice
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 10:11amHerewego FLYERS!
Report Post »AJ_T
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 12:57pm“Herewego Flyers”……GOLFING again!
Report Post »cous1933
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 11:43pmLets Go Pens!!!!
Report Post »LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:25amLet’s go PENS…To a 1st round loss to the FLYERS!
Report Post »REDwhiteBLUEcommrade
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:50amThe Flyers aern’t as dirty as the Canucks. The Blackhawks fan I am, I’ve seen plenty of hair pulling, biting, knee to the groin, blindside hits, to last me a lifetime!
Report Post »LookTowardsTheLight
Posted on April 3, 2012 at 9:30am@REDwhiteBLUEcommrade
Really? I don’t watch enough Western Conference games to know how dirty the Canucks are. I know their fans like to riot when they lose. Sounds like Vancouver would be the perfect place to play for one Sean Avery.
Report Post »randy
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:47amI‘m surprised one of the flyers didn’t start swinging their purses?
Report Post »Stopped watching Hockey when they came out publicly with their Gay Agenda.
PA PATRIOT
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:34amSigns of things to come.
Report Post »Remember the last game. Philadelphia scored in overtime with LESS than 1 second remaining on the clock beating the Penquins. The rage must have been intense, too intense.
This series (RIVAL) will be…..forever great.
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:34amOne more case of gladiator games on ice.
Report Post »rebelwuf
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:31amI‘m thinking the writer doesn’t follow the NHL very closely, especially playoff/almost playoff hockey. :-D
Report Post »troymac20
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:30amSo hope they play each other first round!
Report Post »badpenguin
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:29amChances are it’s gonna be the Pens vs. Flyers in the first round of the playoffs…it’s gonna be great.
Bylsma is a great coach…I can’t wait for the post season…Go Pens!
Report Post »bpodlesnik
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 9:01amGo Pens! I sure hope they can change the outcome when they go at each other in playoffs. Fleury better get with it, we can’t have no 5 goals scored on us and expect to win a post season game.
Report Post »southernman92
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:29amYou’ve got to love this. No matter how hard the NHL brass tries to make the sport “family friendly” the players continue to play old tyme hockey!
Report Post »MsMac
Posted on April 2, 2012 at 8:18amGo FLYERS!!!!!!!
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