Briere fined; Shelley eyes Rangers rematch
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Briere fined; Shelley eyes Rangers rematch
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Flyers and New York Rangers meet three more times this year, and you don't have to be a Fred Shero descendant to realize there might be a parade to the penalty box in those games.
On Sunday, the Rangers' Sean Avery sucker-punched Matt Carle during the Flyers' 3-2 win.
Later in the game, Flyers enforce Jody Shelley tried to draw Avery into a fight. Avery refused.
"But this will all iron itself out," Shelley, a former Ranger, said after Monday's practice in Voorhees.
In other words, the three rematches _ Feb. 20 and March 6 in New York, and April 3 in Philly _ should be a little, um, entertaining.
The Flyers are not pals with Avery or his teammate, Brandon Prust, who took several strides before knocking Kimmo Timonen into the boards in Sunday's closing seconds. No penalty was called.
As Prust skated back down the other end, Danny Briere and Scott Hartnell took punches at him from the Flyers’ bench.
Both players said on Monday that the punches didn’t land. In the YouTube video below, it appears Prust's head snapped back slightly after he was hit. He adjusted his helmet afterward.
On Monday, Briere was fined $1,000. Hartnell and Prust escaped discipline, an NHL spokesman told The Inquirer.
Earlier this season, Briere was suspended for three games because of a head hit, causing him to forfeit nearly $238,000 in salary.
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Defenseman Chris Pronger is getting closer to returning to the Flyers’ lineup for the first time in a little over a month.
Pronger, sidelined since Dec. 15 with a broken right foot, went through a hard practice in Voorhees on Monday and hinted that he is almost ready to return. He will not play Tuesday against visiting Washington, general manager Paul Holmgren said, but Pronger said he will be examined by a doctor on Wednesday.
That visit will determine whether he can return Thursday against visiting Ottawa.
Pronger has missed the last 12 games, during which the Flyers are 8-4. Because of the team's success, Pronger said he would not rush back into the lineup.
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Briere has really embraced the Flyer way. He is feisty little guy.
CRY ABOUT IT RANGERS!!! JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER NY SPORTS TEAM..BABIES!— fman727- If any punishment is dealt out, it should be in the form of dollars, not games. Players on the bench know it's simply forbidden to touch anyone out on the ice, so there's really nothing to defend here. But, because of how minor the contact was, nothing beyond a $1,000 to $2,000 fine is warranted. Someone is going to kill Briere if he keeps acting tougher than his size.— bpkrier
- also forbidden to punch a guy once he goes down. this is what happens when the refs don't do their jobs. — drenner
- Seriously??! Stop whining, Want some cheese with that wine? Players do this ALL the time! The Rangers have the biggest and most all time weasel in Sean Avery. How many time has he crossed the line of fair play to opposing teams? Or even his own teammates? So prust got smacked in the back of the head, so what he diserved worse, he boarded Kimmo with the intent to hurt. — Arbythegr8
- The Fly guys better be puttin' on the foil for the next matchup against the Rags.
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Hey Richards nice Set.— KINGOFZED- we see the Rangers at home in a month. Need to get a big lead, then restore justice to avery, prust. if they want to get it out of the way right after the puck drops thats fine too. for now, just keep winning--we are pulling away as the best team in the east...maybe even in the league.
- The Rangers were a bunch of goons in last night's game; taking late runs at guys, Avery pounding on Matt Carle while he was trying to protect himself on the ice. It's ok- we got the 2 point and the fuel to beat the s*it out of them in a month.— CrazyIvan
we need some old time hockey!- amen — drenner
- i liked the fact that shelley didn't just blast avery after the carle incident. good composure. just wait until next game.— prominal88
