Mike Richards DESTROYS David Booth (HD Multiangle)


PHILADELPHIA -- Florida left wing David Booth was taken off the ice on stretcher after a hard hit from Philadelphia captain Mike Richards, overshadowing the Flyers' easy victory over the Panthers on Saturday night.Booth, who scored the Panthers' lone goal, left the ice on a stretcher near the end of the second period following a hard blow to the face from the Flyers captain. He was taken to Pennsylvania Hospital, where he will remain overnight for tests, according to Panthers' GM Randy Sexton. A member of the team's medical staff will remain with Booth until he is able to return to Florida.

Sexton said it's too early to determine the extent of the injury, but said Booth appeared to have regained consciousness as he left the ice and was coherent in the hospital. The GM didn't hide his feelings about the play, saying "there is no place" in hockey for hits like that.

With 2:55 left in the second, Booth had just released the puck in front of the Flyers' blue line, and Richards plowed into him, striking him with his left shoulder. Both of Richards' feet appeared to leave the ice as he smacked intoBooth.

Booth immediately fell face down and remained motionless for several minutes. Both teams trainers and Flyers team physician Gary Dorshimer attended to him, and several players gathered around him, including Flyers' defenceman Chris Pronger. Booth was wheeled off following a seven-minute delay.

Richards was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct for intent to injure. He could face a suspension, pending a review.
"I'm never out there to hurt anyone," Richards said. "I have respect for the game and respect for the players. My concern is with him. Hopefully, he's fine and gets better. I just wanted to separate him from the puck. He dished it off and everything happened so quickly. I don't have a history of head shots and I don't even know if it was a head shot."

Panthers defenceman Keith Ballard offered a different take.

"Richards knows (Booth) is in vulnerable position and goes after him," Ballard said. "He's done it before. That's the same stuff they've been trying to cut out. The thing with Mike Richards is he's a good, honest player. I love a lot about him game. He does a lot of things well, but then he does that stuff."

Flyers general manager PaulHolmgren thought the hit was clean.

"I don't see how they can view it like that," Holmgren said. "Mike was doing his job. His feet never left the ice. It was a shoulder hit. David Booth turned his head. It looks like he saw him at the last second, but turned his head and his head took the blow. Itwould have been shoulder on shoulder if not. It's a physical game and sometimes these things happen. I feel bad for David Booth. He's a good young player. Hopefully everything is going to be all right."

UPDATE;
According to Philadelphia Flyers' general manager Paul Holmgren, centre Mike Richards will not be suspended for his hit on David Booth of the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.

Booth was taken off the ice on a stretcher in the second period after Richards' shoulder made contact with his face, knocking him unconscious. He spent the night in a Philadelphia hospital undergoing tests and was released on Sunday.


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