subject: Philadelphia Flyers Tickets - Flyers Beat Panthers 5-1 [print this page] Danny Briere had two goals, Arron Asham scored for a third consecutive game and Simon Gagne registered a goal to lead the Philadelphia Flyers past the Florida Panthers 5-1. Get Philadelphia Flyers tickets and see Briere score on a breakaway. Florida forward David Booth, who had the Panthers' lone goal, left the ice on a stretcher near the end of the second period following a vicious hit to the face from Philadelphia captain Mike Richardson.
Booth was taken to Pennsylvania Hospital, where he will remain overnight for tests. A member of Florida's medical staff will remain with Booth until he is released from the hospital. Although Booth regained consciousness as he left the ice and was coherent in the hospital, it's way too early to determine the extent of the injury. Panthers' general manager Randy Sexton told the press "there is no place" in hockey for hits like that.
With 2:55 left in the second, Richards drove his left shoulder into Booth. Both of Richards' feet appeared to leave the ice as he plowed into Booth. Booth remained motionless on the ice for several minutes. Richards was given a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct for intent to injure. The captain could face a suspension after the league conducts an investigation. After the game, Richards explained what happened. He stated that he's not out to hurt anybody and said he has respect for the game and players. The left winger gave his concerns to Booth and wishes him a speedy recovery. The forward continued to say he wanted to separate Booth from the puck and pointed out that he does not have a history of head shots. Richards paused for a moment and questioned if his hit was a head shot.
Asham's tally broke a 1-1 tie early in the second period. The forward received a pass from Richards, who had two assists in the game, and rifled a shot past goaltender Tomas Vokoun. It was the first time in Asham's 11-year career that he has scored in three straight games. Rookie James van Riemsdyk ended the scoring for the Flyers and extended the lead to 5-1. Philadelphia (5-2-1) recently snapped a three-game losing streak and has won two games in a row. Florida (2-6-1) has lost three in a row. Briere recorded his 28th career two-goal game. The right-winger drew first blood and got Philadelphia on the scoreboard after he took a backhand flip from van Riemsdyk.
Van Riemsdyk was able to create the scoring chance after he stripped the puck from Brian McCabe and immediately fed Briere. Briere scored the fourth goal for the Flyers later in the game. Gagne recovered Richards' shot during a power play, and flipped it over Vokoun. Florida's mood changed quickly after Booth left the game. Panthers coach Peter DeBoer stated that he was worried about Booth's welfare once he was knocked out from that devastating hit. The coach added, "It's a scary sight when you have a player totally unconscious on the ice. You're not thinking about hockey. You're hoping he's all right."
