Kukla's Korner Hockey
Category: New-York-Rangers
Early Morning Line
by Paul on 05/22/12 at 04:17 AM ET
Comments (2)
The John Tortorella thing just keeps getting better. Before Game 4 - and after he embarrassed himself, his organization and the league with his press-conference performances - Lord Torts suddenly found a use for the media when his player, Brandon Prust, was facing a suspension
Just like that, The Great Man turned into Winston Churchill. He talked about the Devils’ many crimes against the Rangers. He talked about their under-handed tricks on the power play. He defended Prust at length. It was great stuff.
But here’s the thing. If you’re going to be a jerk, be a full-time jerk. At least that way people know who they’re dealing with. You can’t be a jerk 80 per cent of the time, then turn into Mr. Thoughtful when it suits.
But that’s Tortorella. He isn’t even good at being a jerk.
-Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: John+Tortorella,
What Now Rangers?
by Paul on 05/22/12 at 03:52 AM ET
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from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
Maybe this is what John Tortorella meant by gamesmanship, maybe the Rangers’ coach defines that as racing to the front of his team’s bench for an exchange of angry words with Devils coach Pete DeBoer, a man whose presence he clearly cannot abide.
Maybe this latest incident, coming at 6:18 of last night’s third period after Mike Rupp punched Martin Brodeur in the mask in a Game 4 the Blueshirts trailed 3-0 and would lose 4-1, of gamesmanship was required because the Blueshirts essentially had no game.
It all started after a set-to behind New Jersey’s net that Rupp initiated with Peter Harrold while Stu Bickel renewed acquaintances with Ryan Carter.
The Devils may not be in the Rangers’ heads after tying this Battle of the Hudson 2-2 with Game 5 in Manhattan tomorrow night, but the sight of and sounds from DeBoer obviously trip Tortorella’s wires.
What now, the Devils had the wrong players on the ice to suit Tortorella’s sensibilities after the Rangers sent out Rupp and Bickel following a timeout 12 seconds earlier?
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
We Have A Series!
by Paul on 05/21/12 at 10:45 PM ET
Comments (5)
Finally we have a series we can dig our teeth into.
The New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers 4-1 to even the series at two. Game 5 on Wednesday night should be fun to watch.
This flare-up, first between the players then the coaches, should add some fuel to the fire for Wednesday’s game.
added 10:49pm, The NBCSN version of skirmish can be viewed below…
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Open Post- Game 4 ECF, Rangers vs. Devils
by Paul on 05/21/12 at 06:45 PM ET
Comments (2)
The game is scheduled to start around 8:08pm ET and can be seen on NBCSN, CBC and RDS.
With a win, the Rangers take a commanding 3-1 series lead, but if the Devils pull out a win, we have a series that could go seven games.
I am predicting a 4-2 win for the Devils, how about you?
Below, listen to Elliotte Friedman of HNIC with his pregame report…
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Devils/Rangers Hatred Meter On The Rise
by Paul on 05/21/12 at 10:14 AM ET
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from Larry Brooks of the NY Post,
“You can sense the hatred building from the last game, especially with some of the big hits,” Michael Del Zotto told The Post after coming off the ice from yesterday’s optional skate at the Garden. “It feels like there’s something building.”
There were three incidents involving hits to the head in Saturday’s Game 3, but only one gained notice enough to be reviewed by the NHL after it had been replayed multiple times on the NBC telecast of the Rangers’ 3-0 victory. That was Prust’s elbow.
That was followed by Saturday’s post-game press conference in which Devils coach Pete DeBoer matter-of-factly labeled the incident, “Headhunting, plain and simple.”
What was plain and simple is the unpenalized Prust elbow at 2:38 of the second period came between the unpenalized Dainius Zubrus right elbow to Anton Stralman’s face that drew blood at 8:00 of the first period and the unpenalized leap from behind by Zach Parise onto Michael Del Zotto’s head when the Blueshirts defenseman was in pursuit of the puck with 6:22 remaining in the third period.
The Prust hit was replayed time and again on the telecast. The Parise hit served as a promo for NBC during yesterday’s Kings-Coyotes Game 4 for the network’s telecast of tonight’s match.
“It made my head snap forward,” Del Zotto told The Post. “I know one thing: I wouldn’t want to be hit like that 10 times a game.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Brandon Prust Suspended One Game
by Paul on 05/20/12 at 08:51 PM ET
Comments (2)
Almost 1 1/2 hours ago reports surfaced Prust was getting suspended for one game.
As of this moment, still nothing official from Brendan Shanahan but I am sure the reports are accurate.
Update: Here’s confirmation via video…
And here’s the NHL’s press release:
RANGERS’ PRUST SUSPENDED FOR ONE GAME
NEW YORK (May 20, 2012) – New York Rangers forward Brandon Prust has been suspended for one game for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Anton Volchenkov during the teams’ Eastern Conference Final game in New Jersey on Saturday, May 19, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.
The incident occurred at 2:31 of the second period.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Brandon+Prust,
Tortorella Responds To The “Headhunter” Quote From DeBoer
by Paul on 05/20/12 at 01:59 PM ET
Comments (2)
from Dave Lozo of NHL.com,
On Saturday, Devils coach Peter DeBoer referred to the Rangers’ Brandon Prust as a “headhunter” after his blow to the back of the head of defenseman Anton Volchenkov.
On Sunday, Rangers coach John Tortorella responded to that comment by defending Prust and accusing the Devils of embellishing calls and setting illegal picks during their power plays.
“He’s probably one of the most honest players,” Tortorella said, before launching into a a big chunk of gamesmanship. “I look at (Dainius Zubrus’) elbow to (Anton) Stralman. I look at (Zach) Parise launching himself at (Michael) Del Zotto. Maybe if our players stay down on the ice, we’ll get something. We tell our players don’t stay down on the ice, get up.
“The picking on the power play. If we want to start discussing officials with the media, I’ve got a long list here. That’s a set play by Jersey—picking so we can’t get to (Ilya) Kovalchuk to block his shot. There’s some gamesmanship right there, huh?”
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: John+Tortorella,
Video- Prust Elbow on Volchenkov Today
by Paul on 05/19/12 at 04:26 PM ET
Comments (3)
No penalty on the play but post-game Devils’ coach Pete DeBoer called it “head hunting plain and simple.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Brandon+Prust,
New York Rangers Defeat New Jersey Devils 3-0
by Paul on 05/19/12 at 03:40 PM ET
Comments (1)
The Rangers now lead the series 2-1 with game 4 coming up on Monday evening.
It was a back and forth game until the 3rd period when Dan Girardi scored on the power play early in the 3rd then the Rangers added two more goals to close out the game.
Rangers found as much offense as they needed, now the Devils must figure out a way to put some pucks past Lundqvist.
Here’s Jim Hughson of HNIC with the Girardi goal…
Filed in: NHL Teams, New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Dan+Girardi,
What Happens When The Pre-Game Warmup Goes Too Long?
by Paul on 05/19/12 at 03:24 PM ET
Comments (1)
I do believe Gleen Healy did get his home and road teams mixed up though…
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Rangers | KK Hockey | Permalink
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