New York Rangers unhappy as Ottawa Senators Chris Neil skips NHL penalty over Brian Boyle hit-NHL News
The New York Rangers are apparently not happy over the National Hockey League (NHL)’s decision of not penalising Ottawa Senators’ right wing, Chris Neil, over his hit on centre, Brian Boyle, who is now out of the side with a concussion.
Rangers’ coach, John Tortorella, who had earlier called the hit "a dangerous, dangerous cheap hit," has now refused to comment further on the matter.
He is probably wary of the fact that the NHL is too strict as far as the criticism of their officiating is concerned.
It looks if he has the experience of his counterpart, Chicago Blackhawks’ coach, Joel Quenneville, on his mind.
Quenneville has been forced to pay $10,000 in fine over his criticism of the officiating of their game against Phoenix Coyotes, in which a hit from Coyotes’ left wing, Raffi Torres, knocked down their forward, Marian Hossa.
Tortorella has compared the hit on Boyle with the hit from Torres, but did not say in exact words if he was expecting a similar punishment for Neil, who has escaped the possibility of any sort of punishment over the hit.
The coach said:
"Well they have the blueprint. It's the exact same hit as Torres' - a different part of the ice - but he launches himself, head shot, (the) puck's at the goal line, and he's hit. So, the blueprint's there. I'm sure he's a repeat offender, too. Not much research
to be done there."
However as of the latest, the coach has refused to comment on the league’s decision.
He confirmed that Boyle has suffered a concussion and it is not sure if he will be able to make it to their next game on Monday, April 23, 2012.
The game is more important for Rangers since Senators are leading the seven-game series 3-2. In case Rangers lose the game, the postseason will be over for them.
Boyle has not hit the ice since receiving the injury in the game, which Rangers lost, 2-0, and remains to be uncertain for returning, so far.
Rangers are not happy at all that the NHL has not called for a penalty in spite of the injury being concussion but do not have much choice to protest it openly.
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