Randy Jones of the Flyers said he called Patrice Bergeron a few days after ramming the Boston forward head-first into the glass on Oct. 27 -- a hit from behind that earned Jones a controversial two-game suspension and Bergeron a potentially season-ending case of post-concussion syndrome. Jones left a conscience-stricken message on Bergeron's cell phone; he never heard back.
The expectation has been that Bergeron's response would be delivered by his teammates this evening at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, during the first meeting between Boston and the Flyers since the incident. Jones told reporters that he "knew the time would come," that he isn't worried about retribution and that he's ready to let this all slip into the NHL's storied history of "When Good Guys Go Goon":
"They can look at it their way and I respect that and understand that," Jones said. "I'm not going to sit here and keep dwelling on the situation. It was a month ago and I'm getting over it and I'm back playing worrying about my team and helping our team win."But will the Bruins let him off without a slap on the wrist, the chin and the back of the head?
The Boston Globe's Fluto Shinzawa (that isn't an anagram for Kevin Paul Dupont, is it?) thinks the chances for fireworks from the Bruins could be slim:
The NHL's unwritten code would dictate that if Jones answers the bell if a Bruin comes calling tonight then things won't get out of hand. But if Jones doesn't drop the gloves, there might be some flareups. Cote and Eager should be in the lineup for the Flyers, who lead the league in fighting majors (22) this season. However, all signs point toward the Bruins being without both of their heavyweights. [Shawn] Thornton (four fights) is out because of a broken left foot. [Milan Lucic (seven fights) didn't practice yesterday at the Wachovia Center, indicating that he most likely won't be available.Shinzawa makes the point that those expecting "V for Vendetta on Ice" will be disappointed because the referees "will be on the lookout for flammable situations," and the NHL has a handy way of convincing teams not to carry over bad blood and goonery into their next match up.
But this is a situation, if you follow "The Code" like I do, in which Jones deserves to answer his actions with his gloves off and a snarly Bruin ready to wail on him -- because he ripped out one of Boston's vital organs and because his suspension was paltry. His constant harangue about not intending to injure Bergeron makes Jones sound like someone desperately trying to avoid the retribution he's earned; like a player who believes he can defuse the injurious illegality of his actions by proclaiming inculpability and wishing the whole thing had never happened.
If anything, this situation is another exhibit in the case against the instigator rule; a case that columnist Wayne Fish claims is being made to new NHLPA director Paul Kelly.
