If you read my game story below, you may have noticed that I left out the Andrew Alberts incident. This was done intentionally, as I think it deserves its own post. The Flyers need to be disciplined. They aren't playing gritty hockey, they are playing dangerous and stupid hockey. One bad his is an incident. Two can be a coincidence. Three? Four? All in the same season? Something's wrong. The Flyers slogan this year is "Back with a Vengeance". Back to what? These aren't the Broad Street Bullies, intimidating teams with clean hits and hockey fights. These are the Broad Street Felons, laying people out with dirty hit after dirty hit, seemingly without any fear of retribution. People say that it's not the coach's fault, not the GM's fault, it's all on the players. ####. You mean to tell me the coach has no impact on his team's style of play? Bruins fans know to the contrary all too well, as we suffered through the Dave Lewis Era getting pushed around game after game because we had a coach who discouraged physical play. Maybe it is on the players, who knows. But if you fine the coach, you better believe that he's going to get the message across to his players.

I'm all for physical play and fighting in hockey. I think the sport needs hitting to bring back old fans jaded by years of clutch and grab play and by the Lockout. But there's a fine line between Old Time Hockey and straight goonery.

This one can be argued as a hit, but Downie shouldn't have left his feet. There's some argument there.

But what about this?

Or this one?

And now this?

For those Philly fans who will undoubtedly have a beef with this, I'll admit that the Jones hit was a collision of bad circumstances, and wasn't a case of bad intent. Downie, however, could have hit McAmmond pretty well without leaving his feet. Boulerice's is completely ridiculous, and I'd love to see anyone try to logically defensible. So is tonight'####. I'd love to hear the Philly fans blame this one on Alberts. He was on his knees to block a dump in attempt, and cleared the puck. Hartnell blatantly cheapshotted him, crushing Alberts head off of the dasher with his hip. What was the point? Alberts didn't have the puck anymore, and Hartnell made ZERO attempt to let up. He's going to get suspended, and may finally get Philly the punishment they deserve.

I'm all for Old Time Hockey, but as Butch Stearns just said on Fox25, "Hockey's a rough sport, but there's no room for cheap shots."

GO B'S