What gets me is there was 5 seconds left. Why even throw the hit in the first place??

Unnecessary and stupid imo

I don't know what to make of the Paul Ranger thing.

It looked like he turned into the hit a bit....and I don't feel like there was a ton of intent there to put the guy into next week. It happened and I guess the ref has to call that and throw the guy out if, for no other reason, to keep him from getting killed.

What did you think?
- johndewar

Personally...it might sound harsh, but I thought Ranger made a mistake in not taking the hit. He tried to turn back on it, and it didn't go well.

The outcome was ugly, but to me, Ranger put himself in a bad spot.

Tough to tell. Looks like Ranger turned at the last minute.


- PLindbergh31

He seemingly took a dangerous path to the puck.

Instead of continuing along the boards and picking the puck up on his forehand, he skated past the puck, took a quick look behind him, and reversed quickly towards it on his backhand, placing his back to the onrushing forward.

Shame for Ranger but I don't see it as a malicious hit.

What gets me is there was 5 seconds left. Why even throw the hit in the first place??

Unnecessary and stupid imo
- Giroux_Is_God

Looked like a legal hit that unfortunately resulted in an injury. I think he may have hit the player out of frustration.

What gets me is there was 5 seconds left. Why even throw the hit in the first place??

Unnecessary and stupid imo
- Giroux_Is_God

If you look at the replay, I don't think the kid knew where the puck was when he threw the hit.

If you look at the replay, I don't think the kid knew where the puck was when he threw the hit.
- johndewar

Maybe. But oblivious isn't a defense when you hurt someone.
This is hockey and poop happens. I get it. I just know I'd be out for blood had it been one of our players. And that if Rinaldo had thrown the hit they would have thrown the book at him. I'm trying to stay as realistic as possible.

Looks like a dangerous hit on a guy who put himself in a bad position at the last second. Not an easy one for Shananananahan.

Maybe. But oblivious isn't a defense when you hurt someone.
This is hockey and poop happens. I get it. I just know I'd be out for blood had it been one of our players. And that if Rinaldo had thrown the hit they would have thrown the book at him. I'm trying to stay as realistic as possible.
- FlyersGrace

Oh, I don't think there's anything totally black and white with this hit. I was just trying to pick out things I think Shanahan might pick out.

I'm very interested to see how this turns out and what role the fact it happened in Toronto will play.

He seemingly took a dangerous path to the puck.

Instead of continuing along the boards and picking the puck up on his forehand, he skated past the puck, took a quick look behind him, and reversed quickly towards it on his backhand, placing his back to the onrushing forward.

Shame for Ranger but I don't see it as a malicious hit.
- 77rams

I agree with this.

Oh, I don't think there's anything totally black and white with this hit. I was just trying to pick out things I think Shanahan might pick out.

I'm very interested to see how this turns out and what role the fact it happened in Toronto will play.
- johndewar

Looks like it won't be reviewed, per Darren Dreger on Twitter

What gets me is there was 5 seconds left. Why even throw the hit in the first place??

Unnecessary and stupid imo
- Giroux_Is_God

5 secs is plenty of time for a scoring chance there if he gets the puck. That hit is one of the few I put primarily on the defensman...changing his body position almost losing an edge while at last second putting himself in a very dangerous position. The checker was under control in that situation

Looked like a legal hit that unfortunately resulted in an injury. I think he may have hit the player out of frustration.
- Streit2ThePoint

The only problem that I can see, and if there is a suspension handed out, it'll probably be because the checking player's full attention, and intention, was on the hit and not to attempt to reach the puck first. His back was completely to the puck when he arrived to hit Ranger. He actually had to turn around to find the puck after the hit.

It could be argued that the the puck looked about 3 feet behind Ranger as he turned and was checked. The player (I don't know who hit him) could've skating in and gotten to the puck before Ranger thereby making the hit unnecessary.

Unrelated, but both Kane and Fowler out for 3 weeks, Paul Ranger taken off the ice on a stretcher, and Pietrangelo looked like he may have broken his foot (100% unconfirmed). Rough night around the league (technically, Fowler's was from Friday, revealed yesterday).
- jmatchett383

I love him and hope he's back for the playoffs, but thats a huge break (no pun intended) for the Flyers if they miss him twice.

He seemingly took a dangerous path to the puck.

Instead of continuing along the boards and picking the puck up on his forehand, he skated past the puck, took a quick look behind him, and reversed quickly towards it on his backhand, placing his back to the onrushing forward.

Shame for Ranger but I don't see it as a malicious hit.
- 77rams

I don't either. If he gets up slowly and skates back to the bench, it's 2 minutes for boarding and no one is talking about it.

I wonder what blog Bill enjoyed writing the most today?

I wonder what blog Bill enjoyed writing the most today?
- KGBflyers10

Ours, obviously. We're his favorite children

The only problem that I can see, and if there is a suspension handed out, it'll probably be because the checking player's full attention, and intention, was on the hit and not to attempt to reach the puck first. His back was completely to the puck when he arrived to hit Ranger. He actually had to turn around to find the puck after the hit.

It could be argued that the the puck looked about 3 feet behind Ranger as he turned and was checked. The player (I don't know who hit him) could've skating in and gotten to the puck before Ranger thereby making the hit unnecessary.
- 77rams

That's not a reason for a suspension. The first forechecker in ,job is to separate the player from the puck with a hit. That's Hockey. The forechecker has no chance to stop himself, and if Ranger hadn't turned at the last second, because I agree he slightly misjudged the speed of the puck. But in correcting his path at the last second, he put himself in a bad spot. With the forechecker then having no chance to correct himself. There should not be a suspension there in my opinion.

Let's do this!

Bill are you conflicted today? Where do your rooting interests lay? lol

That's not a reason for a suspension. The first forechecker in ,job is to separate the player from the puck with a hit. That's Hockey. The forechecker has no chance to stop himself, and if Ranger hadn't turned at the last second, because I agree he slightly misjudged the speed of the puck. But in correcting his path at the last second, he put himself in a bad spot. With the forechecker then having no chance to correct himself. There should not be a suspension there in my opinion.
- MJL

It looks like he misjudged the speed of the puck entering the zone and realized he misplayed it so he tried to go back for it not noticing the awkward angle the forechecker is coming in on him at. And boom a whole bunch of mistakes lead to a crappy situation, but they are just mistakes and not a reckless play. If you look at the one video though it does show the forechecker seeing numbers the whole way in though.

I feel like this hit could of been avoided, but I doubt the will be any discipline handed out because of the hit.

If this were a team like the Devils or NYI, I'd agree.

The Flyers know this team kicked them in the jewels last time. I don't expect a let down tonight.
- johndewar

Compaired to the rest of the teams they are playing, might as well be a "trap game".

I love him and hope he's back for the playoffs, but thats a huge break (no pun intended) for the Flyers if they miss him twice.
- PhillySportsGuy

Don't be ashamed, shout your love to the world!

The Blues got spanked pretty bad last night, I imagine they are not going to be in a pleasant mood Saturday afternoon.

Don't be ashamed, shout your love to the world!

The Blues got spanked pretty bad last night, I imagine they are not going to be in a pleasant mood Saturday afternoon.
- wolfhounds

They may put it in cruise control like the Hawks did.

I don't think the Hawks played their A game against the Flyers, but last night showed they aren't mired in some deep slump. Flyers beat a good team. It was no fluke.

That's not a reason for a suspension. The first forechecker in ,job is to separate the player from the puck with a hit. That's Hockey. The forechecker has no chance to stop himself, and if Ranger hadn't turned at the last second, because I agree he slightly misjudged the speed of the puck. But in correcting his path at the last second, he put himself in a bad spot. With the forechecker then having no chance to correct himself. There should not be a suspension there in my opinion.
- MJL

And I agree also as I stated before.

All I said was if they do decide to hand out a suspension, that could be a reason why.

He seemingly took a dangerous path to the puck.

Instead of continuing along the boards and picking the puck up on his forehand, he skated past the puck, took a quick look behind him, and reversed quickly towards it on his backhand, placing his back to the onrushing forward.

Shame for Ranger but I don't see it as a malicious hit.
- 77rams

Ranger not only looks like he was faking about to deliver a hit to his forechecker, but he then turns at the very last second. I think he brought in on himself looking to draw a penalty.

Its these kind of plays that drag the game down.