NHL won't discipline Hartnell for alleged bite

It was the Bite Heard 'Round the NHL because of an accusation by the Pittsburgh Penguins' Kris Letang on Thursday.

Yesterday, however, after consulting with the alleged biter, Scott Hartnell, and some other parties, the NHL exonerated the wild-haired Flyers winger.

No dental records were examined, but the NHL ruled that evidence against Hartnell was inconclusive, and he was not suspended, fined, or asked to have a root canal.

Thus, Hartnell will not live in biting infamy, like fellow athletes Mike Tyson, Conrad Dobler and Tree Rollins, among others.

During a scrum behind the Penguins' net in the final seconds of their 5-4 win over the Flyers on Thursday, Hartnell tangled with Letang. Afterward, Letang had a bloody right ring finger and claimed Hartnell had bitten him.

A smiling Hartnell denied it after the game, and he made a stronger denial after yesterday's practice at the Skate Zone in Voorhees.

Hartnell had a 15-minute phone hearing yesterday morning with Colin Campbell, the NHL's vice president of hockey operations, to state his case. Flyers GM Paul Holmgren also participated.

"[Letang] had me in a headlock, and his free hand was in there," Hartnell said. "I can't really tell you what happened, but I definitely didn't bite him.

"I know he was complaining like I did, but his bare hand scratched my face, and that's about it. . . . We were rolling around on the ice, and I think we did a couple of somersaults there, and I ended up coming down on the ground last. I was out there the last minute and 45 seconds, so I could hardly breathe."

Hartnell was upset with Letang's accusation.

"I'm a pretty honest player. I play the game hard. I play the game the right way. . . . Ask the guys around the league. I like to trip a little bit, I like to get in the mix a little bit after the whistles, but that's part of my game, and that's how I play and how I have to play to be effective."

Added Hartnell: "Anybody who knows me personally knows I'm definitely not a savage. I just play the game hard."

Hartnell was asked if he would send Letang a Christmas card.

"No comment," he said with a laugh.

Familiar faces. Chris Pronger will oppose his ex-teammates when the Flyers (3-1) host the Anaheim Ducks tonight. The Ducks' lineup includes Cherry Hill's Bobby Ryan and former Flyers Joffrey Lupul, Luca Sbisa and Steve Eminger.

Pronger, who turns 35 today, said it would be an emotional meeting.

"It always is when you play your former team," he said. "We won a Cup together, and I have a lot of good friends there . . . but when the puck drops, you play the game, play hard, and you're there to win."

Breakaways. The Flyers aren't calling it a concussion, but rookie winger James van Riemsdyk missed practice again yesterday and probably won't play until Friday in Florida, at the earliest. Van Riemsdyk was injured when he hit his head on the boards in Tuesday's win over Washington. "Until he feels 100 percent, we're just going to be cautious," coach John Stevens said. "We've got a big break after the game [tonight], so why rush him back when you have an opportunity to get some rest and be 100 percent after the days off we have coming?" . . . At yesterday's practice, Claude Giroux replaced Mika Pyorala at right wing on a line with Mike Richards and Simon Gagne. Pyorala centered the third line with wingers Arron Asham and Darroll Powe. . . . The Flyers are 7 for 24 (29.2 percent) on the power play and have killed 20 of 23 penalties (87 percent).