Controversies, fights mark Philadelphia Flyers’ forward Wayne Simmonds’ colourful game week-NHL News
The closing week of March turned out to be the most colourful time of the 2011-12 National Hockey League (NHL) season for Philadelphia Flyers’ forward, Wayne Simmonds.
Having made to go through some controversial situations in the game against Pittsburgh Penguins, the player came out with an impressive display of his distinctive game skills, adding to the overall success of his team.
The game also marked the controversy between the officials and coaches of both teams and at one point, both the officials were face-to-face in front of each other shouting and screaming.
It also prompted the league to impose a respective amount of fines on the coaching officials of the teams and issue disciplinary warnings to other members.
The most notable point of the game for Simmonds was his goal off the face, which according to the player was the most painful attempt of his career.
He said:
"Obviously I think that's the most painful goal that I'll ever score in my NHL career. I don't hope to do that again, but it was worth it."
It is for the second time this season that the player has been bonked into the face by the puck.
It did not go well at all for him at the end as he needed several stitches for the cut.
It did not stop the player from playing and he soon returned to the ice with a visor on. He earlier had used the visor but kept it out after joining Flyers.
Simmonds added:
“This year is my first year without a visor and I've taken a few shots to the face but obviously it's something I'll keep mulling over, but I don't know. I like it without the visor, but then again, I want to have my eyes after I'm done playing hockey.”
Irrespective to the difficulties, his score helped his side win the game. Both teams have already qualified for the playoffs.
It was one of rare games to have been played in rather tense conditions throughout. The experience was not pleasing for the coaches particularly.
The players from both sides had also been subjected to hits frequently. For example, Penguins star, Sidney Crosby, was crosschecked by a Flyers’ player.
An injury could have been another unlucky experience for Crosby given the reason that he has already missed almost the entire regular season with a concussion problem.
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