Los Angeles Kings coach Terry Murray has ridden the Murray Go-Round once or twice.
The former Flyers bench boss is closing in on his 1,000th NHL game. He is now in his fourth season with his fourth franchise.
On Saturday, after his Kings topped the Flyers in overtime in an emotionally charged contest for October, Murray acknowledged the fans' generally warm reception for Mike Richards when he was recognized during a stoppage in play in the first period.
"I was happy to see the Flyer fans receive him the way they did at the beginning of the game," Murray said. "That was class. Once the game starts, there [was] a little bit of a change, but that's OK."
Murray's explanation was interesting.
"That's hockey, that's sports," Murray said.
Normally, it would be: "That's Philadelphia fans for you."
Murray knows better than that.
Besides, anyone who said that would be wrong. What did we learn about Richards' homecoming this weekend? It was jarring. It was awkward, like watching a recently divorced couple run into each other in the supermarket for the first time, except that this supermarket was an arena filled with 19,644 onlookers.
The Flyers have moved on. Richards clearly hasn't. And that's fine. The bitterness is understandable for a player who signed a 12-year deal in 2007.
It was obvious not only in his media availability but also in his on-ice skirmishes. He tussled with Chris Pronger, nearly dropped the gloves with Wayne Simmonds, and at one point briefly grabbed Claude Giroux in the neck after taunting him during a faceoff.
He then stood and trash-talked center Zac Rinaldo in front of the Flyers' bench during a timeout, saying after the game that Rinaldo was a "guy who didn't play much" last year.
And what about the fans? Most cheered Richards' welcome because of his leave-it-all-on-the-ice mentality that initially made him the 17th Flyers captain in team history at the ripe age of 23.
A big portion of fans booed every time Richards touched the puck. But these weren't your typical boo-birds. Name the last time Flyers fans booed a well-liked player returning for the first time. You can't do it. The rousing reception Simon Gagne received last year in his first trip "home," as he called it, made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
