No Discipline for Hartnell After Biting Incident


Email
Print
Sharing
RSS

Friday, October 9, 2009

By Tim Panaccio
CSNPhilly.com

The NHL decided there was not sufficient evidence to either fine or suspend Scott Hartnell for allegedly biting Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang.

Hartnell is off the “Bite Me” hook, according to NHL Lord of Discipline, Colin Campbell. Campbell told CSNPhilly.com that he had discussions with both Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and Pens’ GM Ray Shero about the incident.

Scott Hartnell had a 15-minute conference call with Colin Campbell, the NHL’s Lord of Discipline, on Friday morning to discuss the incident which occurred during a scrum at the very end of the Flyers 5-4 loss to Pittsburgh on Thursday night at the Wachovia Center.

Letang claimed Hartnell bit him on the finger within a pileup with less than 2 seconds remaining in the game. Letang left the ice and later met the media with his hand bandaged, saying he was bit in the pileup by Hartnell.

The Flyers winger denied the incident.

“We’re all pretty honest players,” said Hartnell, who was back on the ice Friday morning practicing with the Flyers. “You don’t want to be eye gouging … we’re not savages. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not a savage. I just play the game hard."

There were no replays shown in the press box on Thursday night that showed a biting incident. Since Hartnell and Lentang were on the bottom of a pile, it might be hard to find a camera angle that could corroborate t he allegations.

“We were rolling around on the ice and did a couple of somersaults together well, not together, but somersaults there," Hartnell said. "I ended up coming down on ground last. He had me in a head lock for the last 45 seconds and I could hardly breathe. I was tired and everything.

“Just a crazy play there.”

Safe to say Letang won’t get a Christmas card from Hartnell?

“No comment,” Hartnell laughed.

Loose pucks
James van Riemsdyk still is not feeling himself, coach John Stevens said, which is why he again missed practice. The Flyers are still not calling this a concussion, but JVR struck his head on the boards Tuesday when checked by Washington’s Milan Jurcina. Stevens hinted at leaving him out until the next game – Oct. 16 in Florida – more than a week after the hit. The accepted medical guidelines for a player suffering his first concussion that is not considered severe, is seven days, provided the player is symptom-free. Look for Claude Giroux on right wing with Mike Richards and Simon Gagne against Anaheim on Saturday. ... Stevens moved Mika Pyorala to center between Darroll Powe and Arron Asham. ... There are about 400 tickets remaining for the Ducks' game.

MOST COMMENTED
LATEST FORUM