With five seconds remaining in the second period of Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers, Flyers’ defenseman Braydon Coburn took a punch at the head Rangers’ forward Nik Antropov, sending him sprawling on the ice clutching his face in his hands. What appeared to be just a punch to the head behind the play, turned into a five minute major and matching game misconduct because Coburn was still clutching his stick at the time, making the play look like an intent to injure.
“I just watched it and I’m not sure it was even a penalty,” said Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren. “I’m not sure if the G.M. meetings influenced the call. But any time we come out of meetings like that, there’s usually some kind of effect.”
Phila.Bright 