Ville Leino will face hearing for elbow; Marc-Andre Bourdon, not?

by Travis Hughes on Dec 8, 2011 1:44 PM EST in Philadelphia Flyers News

I certainly thought that Marc-Andre Bourdon's boarding violation against Buffalo's Nathan Gerbe was the more egregious of the two incidents in last night's game, but apparently the NHL disagrees. The league announced that Ville Leino will face a disciplinary hearing today for his elbow to the head of Matt Read, but it doesn't appear that Bourdon is in line behind him.

Leino was certainly in the wrong, and given that he made contact with Read's head, a suspension is certainly worthy. I'm just shocked that Bourdon doesn't appear headed for the same fate. Not that I mind, though, considering Matt Walker gets in the lineup if Bourdon has to sit...

Video of both hits after the jump.

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gerbe was aware of the impending impact, so by rule 43.1 it’s not a major penalty, and since bourdon didn’t go for the head, there really isn’t any argument for a suspension there…

by PhillyBuckeye12 on Dec 8, 2011 1:50 PM EST reply actions

Boarding is still suspended. You don’t need to resort to rule 43.1.

Keeping alive the old Vaudeville joke, "I'd rather be dead than play Philadelphia."

by Snevik on Dec 8, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

true, i guess that only rules out suspension based on a hit from behind…

by PhillyBuckeye12 on Dec 8, 2011 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

pb12, where are you from??

"I'm not going to get into a he-said she-said with the refs....I'm the he" - Chris Pronger
I'll miss you Richie

by tabby187 on Dec 8, 2011 4:28 PM EST up reply actions

wallingford, pa

by PhillyBuckeye12 on Dec 8, 2011 10:37 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe Shanny realised that Gerbe is a diving little rat who saw the hit coming and turned his back to it.

The only reason I’m shocked is because that type of logic rarely saves Flyers from the wheel of justice.

Flyers, Phillies, Union, Eagles, Phantoms, Wings.

by Pelti on Dec 8, 2011 1:59 PM EST reply actions

The Wheel of Justice is no more! Long live the ShanaBanHammer of Justice™!

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Dec 8, 2011 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

Still waiting for those forty games for somebody on the Penguins.

by musicheretic on Dec 8, 2011 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

cruel

not even shanny is that cruel to make us have to suffer through a few more games of matt walker

by JIBTA on Dec 8, 2011 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting

Donate to my Movember page, or just make fun of my attempt to grow facial hair.

being obnoxious and self righteous while ignoring the point since 9/29/11

by DLJr on Dec 8, 2011 2:37 PM EST up reply actions

Leino’s hit was more malicious, if less violent. Bourdon was making a “hockey play” to steal a phrase from the NFL

by Javi Muhrer on Dec 8, 2011 2:15 PM EST reply actions

They have hockey plays in the NFL? Maybe I should try watching it, could be interesting.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Dec 8, 2011 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

In the eyes of the NHL disciplinarians:

BOS > PHI > BUF

Lifelong Tennessean, Flyers' fan for life

by TNBrando on Dec 8, 2011 2:17 PM EST reply actions

MASS MURDER!!!!!

by The Gang Wins the Cup on Dec 8, 2011 2:18 PM EST reply actions

I just don’t see the Bourdon hit as anything horrifying and Gerbe certainly embellished. Leino’s incident was just malicious in its nature.

Commenter formerly known as M from Pdaddy, but still just Call Me "M"!

DISCLAIMER: Information written above may not be entirely factual nor provable with the use of complex statistics. But it may induce thought, humor and possibly laughter.

by MJDII on Dec 8, 2011 2:23 PM EST reply actions

Couldn’t have embellished that bad since he missed the rest of the game…..

‎"I'm terrible" - Ilya Bryzgalov

by JpH89 on Dec 8, 2011 2:45 PM EST up reply actions

I think that was more related to the fact that he’s trying to play through 25 stitches to the face after getting sliced open by a skate.

by Gizmoitus on Dec 8, 2011 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

I wonder if his injury and the shield contributed to the way he made the play. The pass was in at his feet and he was in a kind of no-mans land for either side of his stick and he might have been able to put himself in a better position. I didn’t pay attention to how he was playing before the hit.

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Dec 8, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

They can’t all be as super fuckin awesome as Lappy.

"Women should have three breasts - two in front and one in the back for dancing." -Al Bundy

by HankMonahan on Dec 8, 2011 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

I conclude he wasn’t healthy before the start. Because that hit wasn’t the concussing type.

Commenter formerly known as M from Pdaddy, but still just Call Me "M"!

DISCLAIMER: Information written above may not be entirely factual nor provable with the use of complex statistics. But it may induce thought, humor and possibly laughter.

by MJDII on Dec 8, 2011 5:51 PM EST up reply actions

I thought Leino’s shot was more gratuitous. Even the TSN guy referred to it as the “chicken wing” elbow of the night.

As for the Bourdon hit, I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect Gerbe to have done something differently. The puck was coming through and he has to make a play for it. Because of where he was standing and how the pass came through and that he’s left-handed it made sense that he ended up facing the glass. I think you can expect Bourdon to have made a different choice. Hopefully Shanahan’s explanation will be illuminating whatever his decision.

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Dec 8, 2011 2:28 PM EST reply actions

Being right-handed, I hadn’t considered that for what Gerbe did. You’re right, that means he turns into the boards, where I would turn away from them in the same situation. Interesting.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Dec 8, 2011 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

Gerbe knew Burdon was coming, and thus was not considered an unaware target. I think Bourdon should get a phone call, but not suspended(that, and he’s not a repeat offender). Leino should get two games because he was deliberately targeting the head. I know Leino is not an offender before, but his hit is the prototypical hit that the NHL is trying to get rid of.

‎"I'm terrible" - Ilya Bryzgalov

by JpH89 on Dec 8, 2011 2:44 PM EST reply actions

Sport Concussion Library, for those interested in sports medical research. It’s independent of any league. Saw it in a NYT Slapshot blog post.

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Dec 8, 2011 2:45 PM EST reply actions

Very, very OT

Just to quell any worries, I’m OK, I graduated from Virginia Tech in ’07 and have been living in PA ever since. A lot of really bad memories coming back though…

Babe, Bucky, Buckner, Boone, BALTIMORE!!!

by goldomatic on Dec 8, 2011 2:57 PM EST reply actions

Thanks for letting us know. So many shootings. Our country is messed up.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Dec 8, 2011 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

Our country is messed up.

Every country has it’s idiots. This one is no exception. Personally I think most of the gloom and doom is overblown.

Formerly... "You don't have to be sweet, to be good"

by Ed Van Chimp on Dec 8, 2011 6:24 PM EST up reply actions

Great book out by Steven Pinker that makes a persuasive case that violence has never been lower, at all levels of life, all around the world. The Better Angels of Our Nature. Doesn’t address whether our country is falling apart, but it does refute one aspect of the doom and gloom view of the world.

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Dec 8, 2011 6:43 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I often say things were a lot worse back in the “olden days” everyone seems to long for…like frontierland where you could be shot just for walking onto someone’s property.

"I wouldn’t run if there was a fire. I wouldn’t run anywhere. I hate running." - O. Munn

by doubleh on Dec 8, 2011 10:41 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm, interesting.

Lightning strikes once, Hextall strikes twice!
"I think there is virtue in pissing off idiots." - Fehr and Balanced

by hintzy64 on Dec 9, 2011 9:44 AM EST up reply actions

i thought leinos was worse, the boarding didn’t look all that bad, and it looked like gerbe could have protected himself but he didn’t. Leino just threw a straight elbow.

by Rhayes on Dec 8, 2011 3:05 PM EST reply actions

leinos

it wasnt that bad .. he was trying to steal the puck … bourdon was worst .. but i dont think either should be suspended .. maybe one game for bourdon .. leinos weak ass elbow wasnt gonna hurt read in anyway

by JIBTA on Dec 8, 2011 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

i only deem leinos worse because it was an intentional shot to the head. Even if not intentional it was a shot to the head.

by Rhayes on Dec 8, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

I thought that Bourdon played his best game as a Flyer, especially late in the game where he stepped up and made a couple of good plays. He’s calm with the puck and doesn’t panic, and his handling of the fight just after the Gerbe hit was impressive. Considering all the discussion of his woes in the AHL, he’s been much better than I expected him to be, and actually looked like an NHL caliber defenseman in this game.

by Gizmoitus on Dec 8, 2011 3:09 PM EST reply actions

FWIW most of his woes seemed to be catalyzed by injury.

Donate to my Movember page, or just make fun of my attempt to grow facial hair.

being obnoxious and self righteous while ignoring the point since 9/29/11

by DLJr on Dec 8, 2011 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed. Missing 51 games due to a concussion is certainly not something to underestimate.

by Gizmoitus on Dec 8, 2011 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

and playing at your best afterwards is still tough.

by Rhayes on Dec 8, 2011 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

Bourdon does seem to be playing with confidence. Marshall isn’t doing badly, either. I know they signed Lilja thinking they needed a vet for that role, and I guess Bourdon wasn’t doing so well last spring where the FO thought he was due a promotion.

But at this point….

by Georgia_Flyer on Dec 8, 2011 3:21 PM EST up reply actions

Let’s not forget Gus. He was looking pretty damn good prior to getting injured as well. I wouldn’t mind seeing one of Gus, Bourdon or Marshall in the #6 spot with one of the others as the #7, and finding a way to unload Walker & Lilja. From the way they have looked in this small sample size, I think they might be ready to step into a small role at the NHL level to bump up their learning curve.

by EC.Comedy on Dec 8, 2011 5:46 PM EST up reply actions

I agree with the way the fight went, on both sides actually. It was an example of the kind of fighting that I’d hate to have taken out of the game.

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Dec 8, 2011 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

yes, a spur of the moment fight when your teammate gets hit bad. Not people skating around looking for a fight.

by Rhayes on Dec 8, 2011 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

and also not jumping a guy after a big but totally legitimate check

by The Gang Wins the Cup on Dec 8, 2011 5:17 PM EST up reply actions

oh god lindy is gonna throw a tantrum

by reaper1221 on Dec 8, 2011 3:20 PM EST reply actions

it’s open season on buffalo players

by hbcivicsi93 on Dec 8, 2011 3:35 PM EST up reply actions

Nah, he doesn’t need to throw a tantrum because he already knew that. At least the opposition get hearings now.

Mike Weber Pressbox Incarceration Status: Transferred to IR Jail.
"I know its a viable strategy and all, but i’d prefer the Flyers not try to take off Miller’s head with every shot."

by Ubiquitous on Dec 8, 2011 4:46 PM EST up reply actions

On a plane for Penguins game tonight. FML.

Who is starting in goal? In my eye Bryz still let some weak ones in last night before the epic comeback.

And I did not see Jagr backcheck once in his time with Rangers, so I hate to say it (no jinxes) but I am loving the new Jagr. Still think we should hold him to 10-15min a game down the stretch if we are in the playoffs to keep legs fresh.

On the Bourdon thing, just to add to what has already been said (aware player), it seemed he made a very concious decision to slow down before the hit vs. some of the more malicious boardings I’ve seen. How’d Ville play the rest of the game last night? Only saw highlights. Miss him. Pisses me off to know end that that punk Versteeg is top 20 in scoring right now. Never played well for us.

Carter & Boucher traded for Cam Ward

by TimKerr on Dec 8, 2011 3:50 PM EST reply actions

Isn’t the latest on Versteeg that he was hurt in a way that affected his overall play? He played through it and gave his best and didn’t whine about it.

/s, more often than not

by flyersfaninchicago on Dec 8, 2011 3:58 PM EST up reply actions

Hadn’t heard that, but hope its true. Why would we trade him then, too pricey?

Carter & Boucher traded for Cam Ward

by TimKerr on Dec 8, 2011 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

Couldn’t afford him and Jagr…

by hebrew hammer on Dec 8, 2011 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, he was playing with a hernia. Got injured right after the trade, but nobody ever said anything.

Bob.

by The Dark on Dec 8, 2011 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

Leino's

Bourdon’s was accidental. Look at his expression after the hit. When you are skating that fast and someone turns towards the boards just before you get there, it’s almost impossible to stop. Gerbe’s a shrimp so of course he goes face first. 1 game at most if any. Leino has no business putting his arm out. His body was not even close. An elbow to the head in open ice is one of the most dangerous plays in hockey. That’s a 3 gamer… but leino has no previous history.

by mixtery on Dec 8, 2011 4:10 PM EST reply actions

No gamethread yet? You are slacking today. ;-)

Editor at SB Nation's Philadelphia Union blog, The Brotherly Game. Follow me on Twitter.

by Justin F. on Dec 8, 2011 5:35 PM EST reply actions

Friggin Travis

Yesterday he used the old 7:30 game excuse. But not up here mother fucker, not up in here!

Commenter formerly known as M from Pdaddy, but still just Call Me "M"!

DISCLAIMER: Information written above may not be entirely factual nor provable with the use of complex statistics. But it may induce thought, humor and possibly laughter.

by MJDII on Dec 8, 2011 5:49 PM EST up reply actions