The Flyers' latest on-ice incident was apparently the tipping point for the NHL.
Broad Street Bullies Indeed
The Flyers' revolving door of players going into and coming out of suspension continued Monday with Riley Cote, right. Philly's transgressions and accompanying penalties this season:
| Ban (in games) | Infraction | |
| Riley Cote | 3 | Shot to the head |
| Scott Hartnell | 2 | Check to the head |
| Randy Jones | 2 | Face-first shot into boards |
| Jesse Boulerice | 25 | Hit to the face |
| Steve Downie | 20 | High hit to the head |
According to multiple reports out of Philadelphia, the NHL on Monday suspended Flyers winger Riley Cote three games and also warned the team about future altercations.
"I talked to [NHL commissioner Gary Bettman] today," Flyers GM Paul Holmgren was quoted as saying in the Philadelphia Daily News. "He thinks, like I do, that these are different coincidences, different situations, that have to be viewed differently, but the question was raised about ramifications if it happens again. So, obviously, we're under watch."
This is the fifth Flyers player to be suspended dating back to the preseason. The latest incident came Saturday night, when Cote gave elbow to the head of Stars rookie defenseman Matt Niskanen with just 2:14 left in regulation time of a 4-1 loss to visiting Dallas. Niskanen was OK after the hit.
Cote received a match penalty. Per league rules, any player assessed a match penalty is automatically suspended pending a review.
Cote is the latest Flyers player to be suspended by the NHL.
On Nov. 27, Scott Hartnell was suspended for two games for checking Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Alberts in the head a day earlier and was given a major penalty for boarding. Andrews left the game with an unspecified head injury.
In the preseason, Steve Downie was hit with a 20-game ban after a high hit to the head of Ottawa's Dean McAmmond.
Jesse Boulerice was dealt the longest single-season punishment in league history when he earned a 25-game suspension for hitting Vancouver's Ryan Kesler across the face with his stick.
Randy Jones was given a two-game suspension after he sent Boston's Patrice Bergeron face-first into the boards on Oct. 27. Bergeron hasn't returned to action since he broke his nose and sustained a concussion as a result of the hit.
Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source: ESPN.com
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