Jones after learning Bergeron did not incur a spinal injury.
"I am definitely relieved. I was pretty shaken up and was extremely concerned about him. Thankfully, nothing was life-threatening. Hopefully, everything is going to work out for him."
More Jones:
"This isn’t part of my character. It’s not the type of player I am. I was going to finish my hit and the unfortunate outcome was he got injured. You never ever want to see someone … get carried off on a stretcher like that. This isn’t something I take easy or can get over in an hour. It’s gonna take a while for me to get over this.”
On the replay:
"I have not seen a replay and I don’t really want to,” Jones said. “This is not something I am overly proud of.”
**
Bruin reaction:
“It was hard to see him down,” said Zdeno Chara. “You have to put it aside and focus on the game. Those hits from behind, especially when a player is turning and goes head first into the boards, there is no room in the game for that.”
From Marc Savard, “You see stuff like that, you don’t want to think about. You love this game, but the respect factor just seems non-existent for some guys. I’m not saying Jones is a dirty player, but any guy facing the glass, you [can’t hit him].”
**
Bergeron has a broken nose and a concussion and has regained consciousness. He has full feeling and motion in all of his extremeities.
Further tests planned.
Nicest goal of that second period was Mike Richards strippijgn Zdeno Chara, going half the length of the ice, and beating Tim Thomas on the backhand after first deking him out ...
**
After watching replays, I am convinced if Bergeron does not lean over, when Jones makes contact, Bergeron would have gone into the glass cleanly without risking his head and neck.
Timing here was critical. Bergeron leans over just as Jones hit him. I don't see an intent to injure here and neither did the officials since they did not award a match penalty.
That's my take on it.
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Randy Jones:
"Words really can't express the way that I feel right now. I am very apologetic for the hit and what I did. It was not intentional. It is something that I have never done before and it is not part of my character. I am extremely sorry. I hope he does ok and everything works out for him. I wish him nothing but the best in his recovery."
Bergeron lost consciousness. Taken to Mass General.
**
Flyers GM Paul Holmgren agrees with the call made on the ice that Randy Jones definitely boarded Patrice Bergeron.
The fact they spent so much time with his head/neck makes us believe this is a serious injury ...
Bergeron's head hit the stanchion - the supports which hold the glass in place behind the back boards.
Bergeron went down flat on his back and lay motionless for a few minutes before moving his feet. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher with his head and neck immobilized.
“It was the correct call,” Holmgren told me. “It’s unfortunate. There was no vicious intent on Randy. He’s one of the most gentleman players in the game. It’s unfortunate because [Bergeron] is on the top, young players in the game.
“He hit him the way he is supposed to but when he [Bergeron] turned back, he was far enough from the boards where any contact was going to push him into the boards.”
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Hatcher is playing; Fitzpatrick is a scratch.
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BOSTON _ Hatcher came on the ice late ... maybe he will play or maybe he is just testing out the knee ...
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Looks like no Derian Hatcher (right knee) and, as expected, no Simon Gagne (dizziness).
Keith Jones' ex-horse just won the Breeders Cup.
"I can't believe we sold the horse and he wins a $3 million race," Jones just told me.
Talk about bad timing, eh?
**
US Air found my luggage ... not before I bought some new clothes for this game ... oh well ... Maybe we'll charge Ek, eh?
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger • 
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