Big Hit By Mike Richards (video)
Last night, the Flyers crushed the Panthers 5-1. They played a great game but the overshadowing story from the matchup was Mike Richards’ devastating hit on the unsuspecting David Booth. It was a gruesome hit that led to Booth getting carted off the ice. There is a backlash coming from fans and the media but what should have been done to Richards (if anything) as a result?
This is a difficult situation to judge. Mike Richards is by no means a dirty player. However, he is a physical one and likes to get that big hit. Hockey is a very fast paced sport and collisions like this happen whether they are intentional or not. When looking at the hit, Richards’ skates never leave the ice when going in for contact which plays a major role in his penalty.
His skate leaves the ice once contact is made, but that is just do to him losing balance. Richards led with his shoulder on a forward lean and it just so happened that the level at which his shoulder was, was the same level of the Panthers players head. If Booth would have been standing up, Richards would have made contact with his chest instead.
The decision today by the NHL not to suspend Richards was met with anger by the Panthers organization and fans but I think it was a fair call. The good news is that Booth has been released from the hospital today and can now go on with his season. Here is a video of the hit in case you missed it. Share your thoughts on it.
i thought that hit was fair.