Nick Ritchie ripped by Bruins fans and pundits after ugly performance in Game 4.

A ton of backlash for Ritchie.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
Nick Ritchie ripped by Bruins fans and pundits after ugly performance in Game 4.
Steve Babineau/NHLI/Getty

Fans of the Boston Bruins and fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning do not have a great deal of common ground to find with one another in these Stanley Cup playoffs, but perhaps they can unite together in their mutual hatred of Bruins forward Nick Ritchie.

Ritchie, who was acquired in a much maligned trade at the National Hockey League's trade deadline, has not been a popular figure in Boston given his uninspiring play during his limited time with the team. That level of play has unfortunately manifested itself again in the playoffs and Richie, who has been made a healthy scratch at times by head coach Bruce Cassidy, did himself no favors on Saturday with another terribly uninspiring performance. Had Ritchie proven to be a non factor in the game however it would have one thing, but on Saturday Ritchie went one step further when he crossed the line and frankly embarrassed the Bruins. 

Ritchie delivered what could only be described as a very ugly hit to Lightning forward Yanni Gourde in the game's third period, and it was the kind of hit that you simply cannot defend. It was late, it was dirty, and it came at a point within the game where it looked like the Bruins were well on their way to losing and was delivered by a player who has been a non-factor in the series. 

As you can see Gourde has already gotten rid of the puck and has even taken several strides up the ice when Ritchie delivers the hit. The angle at which Gourde goes into the boards makes it look all that much worse.


Tampa Bay's Barclay Goodrow had something to say about that and dropped the gloves with Ritchie in response to the hit.


The criticism from Ritchie following that has come pouring in, and the notable thing is that it is coming in from all directions. Bruins insider Joe Haggerty felt the Bruins benefited the most from the scrap between Goodrow and Ritchie, simply due to the fact that Ritchie would be off the ice for 5 minutes.

Jimmy Murphy of Boston Hockey Now admitted that he found himself cheering for Goodrow during the fight.

Pete Blackburn said something along similar lines.

But only after he ripped Ritchie himself.


One Bruins fan on reddit was so mad he forgot Ritchie's name.


I think you get the picture. 

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