Sharks, Flyers unhappy with hits

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SAN JOSESharks assistant coach Matt Shaw wasnt happy with Zac Rinaldos hit on TJ Galiardi in the first period.Danny Briere thinks the referees should have at least called Marc-Edouard Vlasic for boarding with five minutes left in the third.Such is life in what was a surprisingly chippy game at HP Pavilion on Tuesday night between two clubs that rarely see one another.
Everybodys just scratching a clawing for points. Even though theyre an East Coast team, points are so important right now, was how Joe Thornton explained the obvious vitriol.REWIND: Sharks get back on track with win over Flyers
With 4:42 to go in the first period, Philadelphias Rinaldo, who in his rookie year is already considered among the dirtiest players in the league, appeared to hit Sharks newcomer Galiardi high and to the head, causing the winger to miss some shifts.Shaw, filling in for a concussed Todd McLellan, hopes the league reviews the play.We thought there was a hit on Galiardi that was a blindside hit there was no call on. Thats something we hope the league looks into just to make sure the rules are being implemented as they would want them to be, Shaw said.There was no penalty on the play, nor was there one when Vlasic launched Briere headfirst into the boards with regulation time winding down.Vlasic and Briere predictably gave different accounts of the hit.Well, he was alright. He came back the next shift, which was good to see, Vlasic said. I was going back, and he was too, and he stopped right into me. My momentum carried me forward. The ref saw it that way, and thats what he said. Im going in there to get the puck and it just happened he turned into me, and he got the worst of it.At the very least, Briere would have like to seen a penalty called, as the Flyers were still looking for the equalizing goal. He was annoyed after the game either way.Usually, when were in that position, guys will bear hug you or go around you. I was trying to create a pick for Jaromir Jagr, said Briere, who later added he was momentarily dizzy. He was right behind me, the puck was coming around the boards, I never expected to be bulldozed there. It was scary. I was fortunate that it wasnt worse that it was.When youre in a vulnerable position like that guys dont hit you there. I knew someone was coming. I had no clue Id get run over like that.Stay tuned.

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