Sportsnet.ca -- Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli never imagined he would have to defend Patrice Bergeron for being knocked head-first into the boards.

But Chiarelli felt he had to speak up after listening to many hockey observers say Bergeron was partly at fault for what happened to him.

Bergeron suffered a concussion and broken nose when he was hammered into the boards by Flyers forward Randy Jones in the first period of Boston’s 2-1 loss to Philadelphia last Saturday. The suggestions that Bergeron put himself in a vulnerable position by turning his back on the play don't sit well with the Bruins GM.

"It really irks me," Chiarelli told Sportsnet Friday. "It irks our organization for some people to suggest that Patrice Bergeron is partly at fault for this incident. I don't see how that can be a theory. Everyone has the right to speak their opinion, but what's the alternative? How's he supposed to go in to retrieve that puck?

"Patrice plays hard -- he forechecks hard and he's strong on the puck. He's a strong physical player, he's a smart player, his vision is good and he's aware of where everybody is. There's no other way to go in to retrieve that puck. I know there have been commentators that have said, ‘He shouldn't cut back; he should be more aware, his head should be on a swivel.’ But I've talked to Patrice at length and (he said) he wouldn't do it any different."

No timetable has been set for Bergeron’s return, but Chiarelli did reveal that the organization initially feared the injury was much worse.

"Patrice came within a fraction of an inch of breaking his neck," Chiarelli said. "I don't want to think about it. In fact, that's originally what I was told. He's a strong guy, built up around his neck and shoulders and he's lucky for that reason.

"Patrice is quite severely injured. He has trouble sustaining a conversation over two minutes long. He has trouble walking more than two to five minutes. He is severely battered and it gets lost in the shuffle and swept under the carpet a little. This is one of our star players, an important part of our franchise and he stands up for what the Boston Bruins are about. It's just disturbing. I don't want it to be forgotten that he's suffered in this incident."

While Jones only received a two-game suspension for the play, he is the third Flyer this season to be penalized for a dangerous hit causing injury. Jesse Boulerice was suspended 25 games last month for hitting Vancouver's Ryan Kesler across the face with his stick, the longest single-season ban in league history. Steve Downie was suspended 20 games during the pre-season for leaving his feet to deliver a hit to the head of Ottawa's Dean McAmmond. While Chiarelli doesn’t believe it’s a problem exclusive to the Flyers, he does feel players need to be more responsible for their actions.

"I guess there's something to be said about that," Chiarelli said. "Is there a pattern? I'm not sure. I know (Philadelphia Flyers GM) Paul Holmgren very well. I don't know (Flyers head coach) John Stevens, but I'm told he's a good person. I do also know, generally speaking, when a team is in a mentality, a comfort zone where they can do that type of thing … it's a pack mentality. I'm not saying it's the problem with Philadelphia. What I'm saying is players do have to take responsibility and know that you can accomplish the same thing on a play like the one involving Patrice without the end result being what it is."

Chiarelli said he didn’t feel Jones targeted Bergeron, but he did feel the Flyers forward should have let up on the play.

"All I know is he didn't have to hit him to the extent that he hit him."

NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell didn’t feel Jones tried to intentionally hurt Bergeron, which is why he dished out such a short punishment. Chiarelli refused to address the length of the suspension, choosing to reinforce his disappointment with all the talk surrounding Bergeron’s play on the puck instead of the severity of his injuries.

"I'm upset at that (two-game suspension) and I've said my piece on that," Chiarreli said. "The league has dealt with it and that's all to say on that."

Jones serves the second game of his suspension Friday night when the Flyers visit the Washington Capitals.