Clean or Dirty hit?

[Meeze]

At last night's Philadelphia Flyers v Florida Panthers game, Panther forward, David Booth, was absolutely FUCKED UP by Flyers' captain Mike Richards. Do you believe the hit was clean?

Here are two videos, one from the Panthers' home town broadcasters and one from the Flyers' home town broadcasters. Both have different perspectives.

Florida telecast:
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Philadelphia telecast:
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[Nick Hull]

The hit itself was illegal. That being said, it didn't look like Richards was going into it with intent to hurt Booth. It looked like Richards got his shoulder up ready for Booth to brace for the hit, but Booth just moved his face up into it. To me, at least.

[BulleTheory]

no. the fact that he lead with his shoulder is clean, but any hit straight to the head is automatically illegal.

[VIVALAMATT]

That was by no means clean. Anyone who voted "yes" clearly didn't know what the poll was about and voted before they watched the video.

[VIVALAMATT]

On a lighter note, go Sharks.

[Meeze]

That was by no means clean. Anyone who voted "yes" clearly didn't know what the poll was about and voted before they watched the video.

I saw the hit live, and thought it was illegal cause he left his skates. after watching it on youtube a couple times, and seeing it all over Philly sports media, i thought that he left his skates b/c of the contact. i think it is a legal hit. Booth's head was just in the wrong place. Richards didnt elevate his elbow or shoulder...it just happens Booth's head was at that same level....maybe i am a little biased cause the Flyers are my favorite team and Richards is my favorite player...but still, looked legal.

On a lighter note, go Sharks.

fuck the sharks yo

[Say Nothing]

Holy shit...

[Lightsout911X]

I don't think it's anywhere near legal.

[TheRealJohnOC]

ooo JACKED UP!

[RiskyXBandit]

..it was absolutely a clean hit.

I have played hockey for 13 years. How can you argue that was a dirty hit? Richards was coming across ice with his shoulder down. Booth had his head down (not smart if you know the sport) and did a drop pass a second before Richards hit him.

I'll accept the call and the game misconduct because you do not want to see that in the sport, but if you actually understand the sport it was a clean hit.

This video just shows why you should never skate with your head down in the NHL. It's just plain stupid.

[Meeze]

..it was absolutely a clean hit.

I have played hockey for 13 years. How can you argue that was a dirty hit? Richards was coming across ice with his shoulder down. Booth had his head down (not smart if you know the sport) and did a drop pass a second before Richards hit him.

I'll accept the call and the game misconduct because you do not want to see that in the sport, but if you actually understand the sport it was a clean hit.

This video just shows why you should never skate with your head down in the NHL. It's just plain stupid.

agreed...and so did the NHL... Richards received no penalty from the league.

[FUCKDIRTYWIPES]

clean hit. Booth was too busy admiring his pass.

[FUCKDIRTYWIPES]

on a side note i was very surprised to see a poll about this.

[Kurt Retenauer]

More no than yes in my opinion. Richards gave him an elbow to the face, which was dirty, but Booth did skate through the middle of the ice staring at his pass.

[echolalia16]

on a side note i was very surprised to see a poll about this.

As an avid hockey fan I was ecstatic to see that I'm not the only one that follows the sport.

Having said that it was definitely a legal hit, but I hate seeing hits to the head, intentional or not.

[Theseventhson]

Yes it was.

[Meeze]

As an avid hockey fan I was ecstatic to see that I'm not the only one that follows the sport.

Having said that it was definitely a legal hit, but I hate seeing hits to the head, intentional or not.

AYO! hockey's my favorite sport!

[Neo Cassady]

Hard to say. Dirty in that it was to the head, but clean in that it clearly wasn't intended that way and that Richards' skates didn't leave the ice except for because of the contact. I say legal, but penalty-worthy because of the contact to the head.

edit: on second look at the reverse angle, Richards did lift up quite a bit, and may have left the ice had the hit been a moment or two later. Still hard to say, as the poll results reveal.

[ghsNICK!]

I don't like hits to the head like that at all. I mean all in all it's a game and I know they get paid to do it but that could be something that changes someones life.

[Nowisnotthetime]

That was by no means clean. Anyone who voted "yes" clearly didn't know what the poll was about and voted before they watched the video.

I was there. It's hard to even truly understand how fast hockey is even on TV. That was so instantaneous, there is no way there was intent.

Here's the other thing for people who want to baby-up hockey: IT'S A VIOLENT GAME! Let's have boxers stop punching too hard too. Injuries are going to happen in this sport. No one in Philly wanted to change the rules when Scott Stevens destroyed Lindros way back when and basically ruined our season. Stop crying.

[Lirr168]

Penalty-worthy because of the direct contact to the head, but still clean in its intent. As other guys said, you cannot skate across the blue line with your head down. They teach you that in mites!

[dov8811]

haha im from australia i've never seen ice hockey apart from the mighty ducks.... but i hope this happens alot hahaha it was so awesome! i might have to start watching it