New York Rangers coach John Tortorella verbally trashes New Jersey Devils -NHL Playoffs Update
After a 3-0 shutout thrashing of the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers head coach, John Tortorella, came out on Sunday, May 20, 2012, and gave their opposition in the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoff Finals a verbal
hammering as well.
One of the discussion topics with Tortorella was the suspension awarded by the league to his forward, Brandon Prust, due to an elbow hit to the head of New Jersey Devils’ defenseman, Anton Volchenkov. Tortorella expressed his dissatisfaction over the suspension
and defended the veteran forward.
According to the coach, New Jersey players were much more physical in their playing compared to the Rangers.
There were also incidents in which Devils’ Dainius Zubrus hit Anton Stralman and captain Zach Parise targeted Michael Del Zotto in the last 20 minutes.
"Prust has played probably 300-plus games without any hearing, or anything going on with him," Tortorella said. "He's probably one of the most honest players. I look at (New Jersey's Dainius) Zubrus' elbow to (Anton) Stralman. I look at (Zach) Parise launching
himself at (Michael) Del Zotto."
Prust was also unhappy over the decision since for him, it was purely unintentional.
"I was just trying to get in a check before I was at the end of a shift," Prust said. "I was skating over for a routine check to rub him out and get off the ice and he bailed out of it and turned and kind of went low. It's just kind of a reaction when you're
off-balance and your arms go up. I didn't want to do a face-plant into the boards. I had no intent to hit him in the head there."
Tortorella did not come out into the open right after the game, but nearly a day after since it was New Jersey Devils’ head coach, Peter DeBoer, who targeted the Rangers first during a post-matchup briefing.
With the players matchup getting intense along with the coaches also exchanging words with each other, Game 4 of the New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers series on Monday, May 21, will definitely be exciting and a must watch matchup at all costs.
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