Tonight's Flyers game hasn't been the type of start that Peter Laviolette would have hoped for. There's been very little offense, and the team is currently losing 5-1 [Update: Make that an 8-2 final.] at least in part because a 9-minute powerplay. Nine minutes. How does one player amass 9 penalty minutes without getting at least a minor from the other side?
Here's how:
That should give Carcillo haters and apologists alike all the fuel they need for a while.
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Now, Bradley did get his gloves off—but it was right about the same time that Carcillo was mid-cross-to-the-face. I'm of the belief that if you drop your gloves there, you deserve the major too, regardless of the outcome. Watching the replay a few times though, it's hard to tell whether Carcillo was even waiting for that. Something about the way Bradley came at him high set Carcillo off, and he wanted to go whether Bradley did or not. Bradley seemed like he wanted to fight, but delayed longer than a combatant ordinarily would.
Carcillo was assessed two minors, for cross-checking and instigation, as well as the fighting major, a 10-minute misconduct, and a game misconduct. We'll see if he gets a few mandatory nights off as well. As someone with two previous suspensions, it would be a surprise if Carcillo didn't get at least two games for the punch. At the time of the altercation, the Flyers were looking to build momentum after digging back from a very early one-goal deficit. On the ensuing 9-minute powerplay, the Caps scored three times, essentially putting the game away.
Think John Stevens has his feet up with a beer and a smile right about now?