Flyers–Senators brawl
Encyclopedia
The Flyers–Senators brawl was a line brawl that occurred during a National Hockey League
game between the Philadelphia Flyers
and the Ottawa Senators
on March 5, 2004. The two team's combined penalty minutes, 419, were the most in a single game in the history of the league. The game was played at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, U.S.
, which is the home arena of the Flyers.
The line brawl was initiated by Philadelphia left-winger "enforcer
" Donald Brashear
and Ottawa's right winger Rob Ray
with approximately 1:45 left in the third period, the Flyers leading the game 5 to 2. Once the fight between the two players ended and they began to skate to the penalty box
, the rest of the players on the ice for each team, including goaltender
s Robert Esche
and Patrick Lalime
began to fight.
At the next faceoff
, Philadelphia's center
Michal Handzus
and Mike Fisher, the center for Ottawa, immediately began to fight. Approximately 30 seconds after that fight, another fight broke out involving all of the players on the ice, with the exception of the two goaltenders. Finally, a fight broke out between Patrick Sharp
of Philadelphia and Jason Spezza
of Ottawa. The game ended with a final score of 5–3, the Flyers winning.
By the end of the game, 20 players had been ejected for their role in the brawl, leaving a combined total of five players on the team benches. The officials of the game took about 90 minutes to sort out all of the penalties that each team had received. In the end, the Flyers had 213 team penalty minutes and the Senators received 206, combining for the record total of 419.
Continuing the fighting from the game, Flyers General Manager Bob Clarke had to be restrained from going after Ottawa coach Jacques Martin after the game, taking issue with his handling of his team.
was following Martin Havlat
of the Senators when he crossed into the Philadelphia defensive zone. As this happened, Recchi hooked Havlat, causing both of the players to collide and fall into the boards. When Havlat got up from the ice, angered by Recchi's hook, he took his stick above him and slashed
Recchi, hitting him in the face.
Havlat was given a five-minute major penalty for attempting to injure Recchi, along with a game misconduct penalty. He was later given a two-game suspension by the NHL due to the incident. He was also forced to give up US$
36,585.36 of his salary as he was already suspended previously for kicking Eric Cairns
of the New York Islanders
during a game earlier in the season.
Revenge was also mentioned after the game by Ken Hitchcock
, then the head coach for the Flyers. During a post game interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, making the comment "Someday, someone's going to make him eat his lunch. This is something, in my opinion, that the players should take care of." Mark Recchi also mentioned revenge, not specifically from the Flyers, during an interview with the CBC. "It doesn't surprise me coming from this guy. He's that type of player. He's done it before. It might not come from our team. But he better protect himself," said Recchi.
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
game between the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
on March 5, 2004. The two team's combined penalty minutes, 419, were the most in a single game in the history of the league. The game was played at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which is the home arena of the Flyers.
The line brawl was initiated by Philadelphia left-winger "enforcer
Enforcer (hockey)
Enforcer is an unofficial role in ice hockey. The term is sometimes used synonymously with "fighter", "tough guy", or "goon". NHL players regarded as enforcers include Tiger Williams, Tony Twist, Bob Probert, Dave Semenko, Dave Schultz, Tie Domi, Dave Brown, Joey Kocur, Clark Gillies, Stu Grimson,...
" Donald Brashear
Donald Brashear
Donald Brashear is an American-Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently a member of the Rivière-du-Loup CIMT in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey . He previously played for five organizations in the National Hockey League . His main role is that of an enforcer. He was...
and Ottawa's right winger Rob Ray
Rob Ray
Robert John Ray, nicknamed Rayzor is a Canadian sports broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player. He was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy by the National Hockey League in 1999 for leadership and humanitarianism....
with approximately 1:45 left in the third period, the Flyers leading the game 5 to 2. Once the fight between the two players ended and they began to skate to the penalty box
Penalty box
The penalty box is the area in ice hockey, rugby league, rugby union and some other sports where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest...
, the rest of the players on the ice for each team, including goaltender
Goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring...
s Robert Esche
Robert Esche
Robert L. Esche is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for SCL Tigers of National League A.-Playing career:...
and Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime
Patrick Lalime is a Canadian professional ice hockey broadcaster and former player. Lalime played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres...
began to fight.
At the next faceoff
Faceoff
A face-off is the method used to begin play in ice hockey and some other sports. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official. One of the referees drops the puck at centre ice...
, Philadelphia's center
Centre (ice hockey)
The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player...
Michal Handzus
Michal Handzus
Michal Handzuš is a Slovak professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
and Mike Fisher, the center for Ottawa, immediately began to fight. Approximately 30 seconds after that fight, another fight broke out involving all of the players on the ice, with the exception of the two goaltenders. Finally, a fight broke out between Patrick Sharp
Patrick Sharp
Patrick Sharp is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Sharp was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba...
of Philadelphia and Jason Spezza
Jason Spezza
Jason Anthony Rocco Spezza is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
of Ottawa. The game ended with a final score of 5–3, the Flyers winning.
By the end of the game, 20 players had been ejected for their role in the brawl, leaving a combined total of five players on the team benches. The officials of the game took about 90 minutes to sort out all of the penalties that each team had received. In the end, the Flyers had 213 team penalty minutes and the Senators received 206, combining for the record total of 419.
Continuing the fighting from the game, Flyers General Manager Bob Clarke had to be restrained from going after Ottawa coach Jacques Martin after the game, taking issue with his handling of his team.
Previous incidents
The brawl was likely to have been initiated because of a previous incident between the teams. About a week before the brawl, the Flyers were in Ottawa for a game against the Senators. During the third period, Flyers winger Mark RecchiMark Recchi
Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens...
was following Martin Havlat
Martin Havlat
Martin Havlát is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
of the Senators when he crossed into the Philadelphia defensive zone. As this happened, Recchi hooked Havlat, causing both of the players to collide and fall into the boards. When Havlat got up from the ice, angered by Recchi's hook, he took his stick above him and slashed
Slashing (ice hockey)
Slashing in ice hockey is a penalty called when an offending player swings their hockey stick at an opposing player, regardless of contact. Such a penalty may range from a minor penalty to a match penalty, depending on the seriousness of the injury to the opposing player.-External links:*...
Recchi, hitting him in the face.
Havlat was given a five-minute major penalty for attempting to injure Recchi, along with a game misconduct penalty. He was later given a two-game suspension by the NHL due to the incident. He was also forced to give up US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
36,585.36 of his salary as he was already suspended previously for kicking Eric Cairns
Eric Cairns
Eric Cairns is a retired ice hockey defenceman and current pro scout for the New York Islanders. His last season was with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL...
of the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
during a game earlier in the season.
Revenge was also mentioned after the game by Ken Hitchcock
Ken Hitchcock
Ken Hitchcock also known as "Hitch" is an NHL hockey coach and pro scout, currently coaching the St. Louis Blues.-Early Years:...
, then the head coach for the Flyers. During a post game interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, making the comment "Someday, someone's going to make him eat his lunch. This is something, in my opinion, that the players should take care of." Mark Recchi also mentioned revenge, not specifically from the Flyers, during an interview with the CBC. "It doesn't surprise me coming from this guy. He's that type of player. He's done it before. It might not come from our team. But he better protect himself," said Recchi.
Penalty summary
| Penalty summary | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Period | Team | Player | Penalty Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
Time | PIM |
| 1st | PHI | Tony Amonte Tony Amonte Anthony Lewis Amonte is a retired American professional ice hockey player. He played right wing for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and the Calgary Flames, all of the National Hockey League... |
Holding – Obstruction | 05:17 | 2:00 |
| 2nd | OTT | Mike Fisher | Tripping | 03:57 | 2:00 |
| OTT | Todd Simpson Todd Simpson Todd Simpson is an ice hockey player. Currently, he plays for the Hannover Scorpions in the German DEL league.Simpson's younger brother, Kent Simpson, is also a professional ice hockey player.... |
Holding | 06:06 | 2:00 | |
| PHI | Radovan Somik Radovan Somík Radovan Somík is a Slovak professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for Pardubice HC in the Czech Extraliga. He previously played two seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002 to 2004.... |
Slashing | 13:08 | 2:00 | |
| OTT | Mike Fisher | Hi-sticking | 17:07 | 2:00 | |
| 3rd | OTT | Daniel Alfredsson Daniel Alfredsson Daniel Alfredsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey player. He is the captain of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . He is considered a leader by example and has been compared to former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman in his value to the Senators... |
Roughing | 09:03 | 2:00 |
| PHI | Alexei Zhamnov Alexei Zhamnov Alexei Yuryevich Zhamnov is a Russian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League for the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins... |
Roughing | 09:03 | 2:00 | |
| OTT | Bryan Smolinski Bryan Smolinski Bryan Anthony Smolinski is an American professional ice hockey center. The Boston Bruins drafted him 21st overall in 1990. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and... |
Roughing | 12:18 | 2:00 | |
| PHI | Patrick Sharp Patrick Sharp Patrick Sharp is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Sharp was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba... |
Roughing | 12:18 | 2:00 | |
| OTT | Todd Simpson Todd Simpson Todd Simpson is an ice hockey player. Currently, he plays for the Hannover Scorpions in the German DEL league.Simpson's younger brother, Kent Simpson, is also a professional ice hockey player.... |
Slashing | 14:21 | 2:00 | |
| PHI | Patrick Sharp | Too many men/ice - bench | 15:57 | 2:00 | |
| PHI | Donald Brashear Donald Brashear Donald Brashear is an American-Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is currently a member of the Rivière-du-Loup CIMT in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey . He previously played for five organizations in the National Hockey League . His main role is that of an enforcer. He was... |
Instigator | 18:15 | 2:00 | |
| PHI | Donald Brashear | Roughing | 18:15 | 2:00 | |
| PHI | Donald Brashear | Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Donald Brashear | Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Donald Brashear | Misconduct (10 min) | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Donald Brashear | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Rob Ray Rob Ray Robert John Ray, nicknamed Rayzor is a Canadian sports broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player. He was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy by the National Hockey League in 1999 for leadership and humanitarianism.... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Branko Radivojevic Branko Radivojevic Branko Radivojevič is a Slovak professional ice hockey forward currently playing for Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Branko Radivojevic | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Branko Radivojevic | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Shaun Van Allen Shaun Van Allen Shaun Van Allen is a retired professional hockey player who played in the NHL from 1991 to 2004. He played 794 games in the NHL, and scored 269 points.-Professional career:... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Shaun Van Allen | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Shaun Van Allen | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Danny Markov | Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Danny Markov | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Todd Simpson Todd Simpson Todd Simpson is an ice hockey player. Currently, he plays for the Hannover Scorpions in the German DEL league.Simpson's younger brother, Kent Simpson, is also a professional ice hockey player.... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Todd Simpson | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Robert Esche Robert Esche Robert L. Esche is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for SCL Tigers of National League A.-Playing career:... |
Goalie leave crease | 18:15 | 2:00 | |
| PHI | Robert Esche | Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Robert Esche | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Robert Esche | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Patrick Lalime Patrick Lalime Patrick Lalime is a Canadian professional ice hockey broadcaster and former player. Lalime played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres... |
Goalie leave crease | 18:15 | 2:00 | |
| OTT | Patrick Lalime | Fighting (maj) | 18:15 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Patrick Lalime | Game misconduct | 18:15 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Radovan Somik Radovan Somík Radovan Somík is a Slovak professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for Pardubice HC in the Czech Extraliga. He previously played two seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002 to 2004.... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:18 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Chris Neil Chris Neil Chris Neil is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Neil currently plays right wing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League .-Early years:Neil started out playing minor hockey in the town of Flesherton, Ontario... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:18 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Mattias Timander Mattias Timander Erik Mattias Timander is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman, currently playing for the Leksands IF of the HockeyAllsvenskan.-Playing career:... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:18 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Zdeno Chara Zdeno Chára Zdeno Chára is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenseman. He is the captain of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and won the Norris Trophy while playing for them in 2008–09. At 6 ft 9 , he is the tallest player ever to play in the NHL... – served by Martin Havlat Martin Havlat Martin Havlát is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
Instigator | 18:18 | 2:00 | |
| OTT | Zdeno Chara | Fighting (maj) | 18:18 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Zdeno Chara | Misconduct (10 min) | 18:18 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Zdeno Chara | Game misconduct | 18:18 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Michal Handzus Michal Handzus Michal Handzuš is a Slovak professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:21 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Michal Handzus | Misconduct (10 min) | 18:21 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Michal Handzus | Game misconduct | 18:21 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Mike Fisher | Fighting (maj) | 18:21 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Mike Fisher | Misconduct (10 min) | 18:21 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Mike Fisher | Game misconduct | 18:21 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Mark Recchi Mark Recchi Mark Louis Recchi is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 22 years in the National Hockey League , most notably for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:45 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Mark Recchi | Game misconduct | 18:45 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Bryan Smolinski Bryan Smolinski Bryan Anthony Smolinski is an American professional ice hockey center. The Boston Bruins drafted him 21st overall in 1990. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:45 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Bryan Smolinski | Game misconduct | 18:45 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Wade Redden Wade Redden Wade Redden is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing in the New York Rangers organization for its American Hockey League affiliate, the Connecticut Whale. He joined the New York Rangers in 2008 after 11 seasons with the Ottawa Senators... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:45 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Wade Redden | Misconduct (10 min) | 18:45 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Wade Redden | Game misconduct | 18:45 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | John Leclair John LeClair John Clark LeClair is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins... – served by Simon Gagne Simon Gagné Simon Gagné is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . Prior to Los Angeles, he spent the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with the Philadelphia Flyers and another with the Tampa Bay Lightning.Drafted out of the Quebec Major Junior... |
Holding | 18:45 | 2:00 | |
| PHI | John Leclair | Fighting (maj) | 18:45 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | John Leclair | Misconduct (10 min) | 18:45 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | John Leclair | Game misconduct | 18:45 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Patrick Sharp Patrick Sharp Patrick Sharp is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:Sharp was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:47 | 5:00 | |
| PHI | Patrick Sharp | Misconduct (10 min) | 18:47 | 10:00 | |
| PHI | Patrick Sharp | Game misconduct | 18:47 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Jason Spezza Jason Spezza Jason Anthony Rocco Spezza is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, an alternate captain of the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League... |
Fighting (maj) | 18:47 | 5:00 | |
| OTT | Jason Spezza | Misconduct (10 min) | 18:47 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Jason Spezza | Game misconduct | 18:47 | 10:00 | |
| OTT | Jason Spezza | Game misconduct | 18:47 | 10:00 | |