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Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:45 am EDT

Hartnell's end-of-game meal allegedly included Letang's finger

By Sean Leahy

It was your typical "Battle of Pennsylvania" that featured plenty of goals (including Braydon Coburn(notes) pulling a Steve Smith) and endless bad blood between the longtime division rivals. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-4 last night behind Evgeni Malkin's(notes) two points and Tyler Kennedy's(notes) eventual game-winning with just under 12 minutes to play in the third period, but what would a Penguins-Flyers game be without a little controversy?

What's making the headlines this morning is the actions of Scott Hartnell(notes) as time was running out late in the game. With the Flyers down a goal and with under 20 seconds remaining, their last effort saw Mike Richards(notes) collide with Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury(notes) after a missed shot and as Penguins defenseman Kris Letang(notes) tried to defend his netminder, Hartnell grabbed him behind and the two wrestled each other to the ice. According to Letang, Hartnell bit him on the right ring finger.

Click on the screen cap below to watch video of the final flurry and aftermath:

After the game, Letang spoke with reporters and did not outright accuse Hartnell of biting his finger, instead telling reporters to speak with the Flyers forward. Click on the screen cap for video of Letang speaking with reporters after the game:

Hartnell denied the allegations by the Penguins saying "a lot of stuff happens on the bottom of the pile. He had his hands in my face doing the face wash and we're rolling around. I can't say what happened."

Please recall in January when Ottawa's Jarko Ruutu bit Buffalo's Andrew Peters(notes) which saw the Senators pest get suspended two games by the National Hockey League. Unlike in the Ruutu-Peters incident there is no visual evidence at this time that clearly shows a Hartnell bite which could help the NHL determine a penalty.

If the punishment for proven finger biting is two games, does the NHL decide a suspension (if any) without video evidence or confirmation from one of the referees? Former Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher(notes) was accused of biting New Jersey's Travis Zajac(notes) in 2008, but no fine or suspension was ever levied, so Hartnell may escape here.

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283 Comments

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  1. fetus enchiladas
    1. Posted by fetus enchiladas Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:52 am EDT

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    maybe it was just a taste testing for the new value menu at mcdonalds.
    the flyers approach to the game will never change, no matter how many goal scorers they try to plug into the lineup. when they get down, they get anxious and don't know how to handle themselves and act like 5 year olds. they don't play intelligent hockey, and that's why they'll never win anything of importance.
  2. Meat
    2. Posted by Meat Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:56 am EDT

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    Hartnell should get suspended but probably won't. That was a joke move for a joke player. You would think bite marks would be reason enough, but since there's no evidence outside of that I don't think anything will come it. It's pretty obvious that he did it though.
  3. Damian R
    3. Posted by Damian R Fri Oct 09, 2009 7:57 am EDT

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    Letang, its what's for dinner. (via: http://twitpic.com/kscrx)
    Blow it our your a$$ Roland McHartnell.
  4. The KBBL Party Penguin
    4. Posted by The KBBL Party Penguin Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:09 am EDT

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    Hartnell: Hungry for MORE!
    At least they can keep selling those 08-09 T-shirts from last year.
  5. DanThePittsburghFan
    5. Posted by DanThePittsburghFan Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:09 am EDT

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    Completely classless act by a completely classless player from a completely classless organization. What else would you expect? This is exactly why the Flyers will never win the Cup, because this is how they respond to adversity.
  6. Eskimo Monkey
    6. Posted by Eskimo Monkey Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:14 am EDT

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    I'm just amazed that there hasn't been more comment on that cheap shot by Richards. I love the guy as a player, but he just skated at Fleury to take him out and it looks like he may have tried to throw an elbow to his head.
  7. Edwin
    7. Posted by Edwin Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:17 am EDT

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    Nothing new!! This is what has become expected from Scott Hartnell and the Flyers....not enough talent to play on any other team inthe league. He'd be a 4th line player at best on any real team. I mean, how bad is it when the Nashville Predators give up on you!! So he's got to do things like bite people or grow ugly hair do's to keep his name in the spotlight. I guess if anything it makes for great entertainment. Get use to it Flyers fans, all your team will ever do is act like a bunch of children and keep us all laughing, meanwhile at the end of the year you will be crying. As long as you have a team with no dicipline, there will be no Cup in Philly.
  8. Kristan
    8. Posted by Kristan Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:22 am EDT

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    who's to blame hartnell? I'd but that lovely finger too ;)
  9. fetus enchiladas
    9. Posted by fetus enchiladas Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:23 am EDT

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    eskimo, i do agree with you on the richards situation. crashing the net, getting off a shot and falling onto a goaltender is one thing, but his body language while going down did more than insinuate his intentions. a forearm to the helmet of fleury, then he hunches over like he was hurt on the play? come on. THAT is not leadership. even pierre mcguire would be disappointed. i would expect that from hartnell, pronger, carcillo, etc... but i guess nobody on a roster with this team mentality is exempt.
    maybe that was payback for laraque demolishing biron a couple years ago.
    either way, the penguins are still superior. the flyers talent goes to waste because of their approach to the game.
  10. Dan
    10. Posted by Dan Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:24 am EDT

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    The wierd thing was that I watched the end of about 3 other NHL games last night and the losing team didn't torpedo the goalie or gnaw on any fingers in the last few seconds. As usual the Flyers are in a SPECIAL league of their own.
  11. jmdruding
    11. Posted by jmdruding Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:31 am EDT

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    @ 6
    Exactly what I was thinking. I hate both of these teams, but Richards' run-in with Fleury called for a huge scrum. Richards is a great player who shouldn't be ruining his rep with plays like that. Plus, after he ran into Fleury, he acted like a big p*ssy and acted hurt under the net.
    Speaking of a p*sssy, did you see Pronger come in from behind with the choke hold? throw off the gloves why don't ya?
  12. M
    12. Posted by M Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:34 am EDT

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    And if Hartnell is suspended without any legitimate proof of biting his finger there should be rioting in the streets. Flyers fans should start stabbing each other. Relax people you won the game.
  13. stephanie
    13. Posted by stephanie Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:38 am EDT

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    dirty, dirty, dirty Philly. of course... what else do you expect. they can't beat us, so you go and bite letang?! classless, bush league move by a dirty player. richards too barrelling into fleury. keep up the trashy play and we'll keep on winning games.
    Let's Go Pens!
  14. Dan B
    14. Posted by Dan B Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:39 am EDT

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    Did anyone else hear Paul Steigerwald call Hartnell "mop-head" in that end-of-game skirmish? Or was in Bob Errey...either way, good stuff haha.
  15. Ian S
    15. Posted by Ian S Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:47 am EDT

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    Richards, what a leader!
  16. The Bog
    16. Posted by The Bog Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:48 am EDT

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    Listen Penguins fans, if Hartnell bit the guy that's absolutely classless and there is no defense for that. But complaining about what Richards did and using that as an example why the Flyers will never win is hypocritical.
    Exhibit A: Kunitz cross-checking Varlamov IN THE HEAD towards the end of a playoff game down a goal.
    Exhibit B: Malkin jumps Zetterberg at the end of the game because he's frustrated.
    Exhibit C: Crosby jumps McLean off the faceoff because they are losing and he's frustrated.
    This is not meant to drag up the past, it is meant to show that outraged Penguins fans are the same ones who defend these actions. Stop. Frustrated teams do furstrated things no matter how good or bad the team is. Deal with it.
  17. M
    17. Posted by M Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:50 am EDT

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    @brainfreeze, yea and he said it so nonchalantly like it was just his name which made it even funnier.
  18. cartledge
    18. Posted by cartledge Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:51 am EDT

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    Philly is a class act.
    Richards running Fleury, Harnell biting people. What jagoffs. My girlfriend asked, "Did he just say that guy with the scraggly hair was a mophead or is that his name." At least she is watching the games. :-)
  19. Stryker
    19. Posted by Stryker Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:53 am EDT

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    My favorite part is the classy Flyers fans who were flipping off the Pens' players during the scrum and looking thoroughly happy about it, too (granted this happens probably everywhere, but usually not so blatantly). Too bad one of the Pens couldn't respond by holding up the giant ring they have for winning something the Flyers haven't touched since the 70's.
  20. jasonicus
    20. Posted by jasonicus Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:53 am EDT

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    Wait, M, are you talking about Pronger? Because thats exactly what he does. At least Kunitz picks on guys his size, Pronger picks on smaller guys and hits them from behind no less.
  21. Gary W
    21. Posted by Gary W Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:56 am EDT

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    I don't get the outcry from Pens fans here. I am a huge Pens fan, but the nastiness in this game is what makes it more entertaining than any sport in the country. I think we too soon forget Ulfie taking out Cam Neely's knee, Stevens hitting guys after the whistle, Barnaby being Barnaby, and Gary Roberts face washing everything that moved.
    Hartnell is a piece of s***, but isn't it fun hating him? Richards is a classless cocky punk, but isn't it fun hating him too? If these guys played with etiquette, hockey would be as boring as soccer...
  22. marcie s
    22. Posted by marcie s Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:56 am EDT

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    Very disappointed in this kind of action. Not only of the finger incident, but I would be embarassed by people chanting CROSBY SUCKS. Philly needs to grow up and enjoy the game,. Fine to cheer and boo for your favorite and non favorite players, BUT this is a real reflection on the Philly organization. I think Philly has a fine team, only marked by this terrible behavior.
  23. DaveO S
    23. Posted by DaveO S Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:57 am EDT

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    The sad thing is, the Flyers have the talent to not go out and act like goons. I think all the Richards comments are right on point. The video doesn't show whether or not Letang got bit. Do I think it happened? Sure, Hartnell is a dirty player and he never really denied it. But the fact that there is no conclusive evidence, I doubt a suspension will occur, and it doesn't need to. Hartnell will find something else to get suspended for by the end of the year.
    The Flyers are a big team with alot of guys who can and will fight, they are going to 'send messages' at the end of every game they lose this year and the league is going to have to be ready for it. The Penguins just have to be smart and not retaliate in the next game. Just stick to their game plan and don't get gooned out of a game. Let them take their dirty penalties and play the whole game on the pk like they've done and will do all year.
  24. M
    24. Posted by M Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:59 am EDT

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    Taking a run at a goalie is not a measure of leadership or evidence to the lack there of. It is a fail on the part of sportsmanship. But stop with the captain envy! It is the same as Pens fans crying that every arena in the league chants crosby sucks because they are jealous he is not on their team. Which by the way is true.
  25. Seth C
    25. Posted by Seth C Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:03 am EDT

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    Gary W,
    I agree completely with ya with the fighting, facewashing and cheap shots, but I can't agree with biting someone's finger because your frustrated and obviously beat. Letang should've dropped the gloves and mopped up the ice with the human terd. It's a typical Flyer's team filled with goons, which makes it fun to hate them, oh don't forget about the fans and the classless Crosby sux chants.

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