Shanabanned: Harry Z gets four games

By Bob H
Posted on 03/03/2013 at 4:39 pm

This is the kind of season it’s been so far: the National Hockey League ignores the fact that the Philadelphia Flyers are taking time off from their busy schedule to hold their annual carnival on Sunday afternoon, issuing a four-game suspension to Harry Zolnierczyk. Zolnierczyk was given a major for charging and a game misconduct near the midway point of the first period in a 2-1 Flyers win, after issuing a hard hit to Ottawa defenseman Mike Lundin. Lundin left the game and did not return with a suspected head injury. Hit up the link to see Brendan Shanahan’s explanation. …

Schenn given one-game ban for Volchenkov hit

By Bob H
Posted on 01/23/2013 at 5:42 pm

NHL discipline czar Brendan Shanahan laid down the law for the first time in the 2013 season, suspending Flyers forward Brayden Schenn for his hit in last night’s game against Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov.

Giroux suspended for Game 5

By Bob H
Posted on 05/07/2012 at 3:07 pm

A worst-case scenario has reared its ugly head this afternoon, as Claude Giroux has been suspended for Tuesday’s Game 5 for elbowing Dainius Zubrus in the head late in the second period of last night’s 4-2 loss. Now, the Flyers are facing elimination without their best and most consistent player who has also been one of the top skaters in this postseason. “After pulling even with Zubrus on the backcheck, Giroux chops down across the back of Zubrus’ stick, and then well after the puck has been chipped in the corner, Giroux comes across Zubrus’ body and drives upward with …

At long last: Asham banned four games, Neal for one

By Bob H
Posted on 04/17/2012 at 10:31 pm

Following an interminable wait, the National Hockey League on Monday suspended Penguins forward Arron Asham four games — the balance of the current best-of-seven Eastern Quarterfinal — and James Neal has drawn a one-game ban for actions taken during Sunday’s 8-4 loss to the Flyers in Game 3. Interestingly, Neal was only issued one decision for a pair of hearings today — both of which ended around 10 a.m. (et). He was not punished for his original misdeed — an open-ice blind-side hit to Sean Couturier after the 19-year-old had gotten rid of the puck — but rather for his …

Rinaldo sits for Ericsson hit

By Bob H
Posted on 02/13/2012 at 8:15 pm

What do we do with you, Zac Rinaldo? The rookie center was “Shanabanned” earlier this evening, suspended for two games without pay on Monday by the National Hockey League. Rinaldo was slapped on the wrist because of that hard check which blew up Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson late in the first period of a 3-2 Detroit victory on Sunday night at Joe Louis Arena. He was given a minor for charging on the play and that realistically should have been all. “Ericsson is eligible to be hit in this situation, and Rinaldo is in position to deliver a legal, …

Two Phantoms, one Bear draw suspensions for Saturday fracas

By Bob H
Posted on 01/10/2012 at 4:15 pm

While Philadelphia got to see a rare outdoor AHL contest between the Adirondack Phantoms and Hershey Bears on Friday, fans who packed the decidedly-indoor Giant Center in the Chocolate City got the most for their buck on Saturday night. In this jumpy video, Phantoms forward Tom Sestito and defenseman Oliver Lauridsen, along with Bears forward Joel Rechlicz mix it up near the benches. There’s a better view of the situation, folded into a brief highlight package for the whole game. You can see it all develop from the 2:32 mark. The American Hockey League had something to say …

Sestito suspended four games

By Bob H
Posted on 09/28/2011 at 7:38 pm

The National Hockey League once again made its punitive presence known to the Philadelphia Flyers, as forward Tom Sestito has been told to sit out for the remainder of the preseason (two games) and two additional regular-season games. It was not an unexpected move, as the fiery bottom-six winger, who was fighting for a roster spot (somewhat literally) even posted a message on his Twitter account earlier in the day saying he was fortunate to not have the book thrown at him as a repeat offender. Sestito, who has apparently been waived by the Flyers on Wednesday, was banned due …

NHL comes down hard on Shelley

By Bob H
Posted on 09/22/2011 at 8:30 pm

While it wasn’t the first test for new NHL discipline czar/vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan, it was the one where he showed his mettle. On Thursday evening, Philadelphia Flyers forward Jody Shelley was suspended for the remainder of the preseason and the first five games of the regular season for his questionable hit on Toronto’s Derek Boyce during the second period of Wednesday’s 4-2 preseason loss. It was a ruling based on the new protocols surrounding Rule 48, which aims to penalize the severity of the impact of boarding infractions, rather than the bodily location of the hit. Shelley …

Carcillo suspended for off-ice incident

By Bob H
Posted on 05/17/2011 at 3:16 pm

File this one under WTF…the National Hockey League issued a two-game suspension for Flyers forward Dan Carcillo for actions between periods in Philly’s season-ending Game 4. Here’s the official release from the NHL: “Philadelphia Flyers’ forward Daniel Carcillo has been suspended for the period covering two regular season games, without pay, for his actions off the ice following the first period of Game #4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Boston Bruins on May 6, the National Hockey League announced today. National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy reached the decision following a hearing into …

Cooke suspended for rest of regular season, first round of playoffs

By Bob H
Posted on 03/21/2011 at 5:41 pm

The National Hockey League on Monday afternoon issued its sternest warning yet to players who seek to make contact with an opponent’s head. It has suspended Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke for the final 10 games of the regular season plus the entire first round of the playoffs. Cooke delivered an elbow to the side of the face of New York Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh at the 4:36 mark of the third period of Sunday’s 5-2 Penguins loss. He was given a major for elbowing and a game misconduct. The total length of the penalty will end up lasting between …