With the Rangers’ season hanging in the balance Saturday night, Rangers manager Peter Laviolette’s interview wasn’t your typical mid-playoff interview.
As ESPN on-ice reporter Emily Kaplan asked Laviolette how the Rangers were playing late in the first period of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Panthers, a shirtless young Florida fan laughed in the background, showing off his muscles.
“What about those guys behind us,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said with a laugh. “He likes interviews more than you do,” Kaplan responded.
During the first period of Game 6. @CamandStrick / x
The genial Mr. LaViolette concluded the short interview with a smile and a tap on the glass as he greeted the young man.
“Peter Laviolette had to deal with the muscles of the Florida Panthers on the ice, but it was the muscles in the stands behind him,” ESPN play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough said as the segment concluded.
If the interview had been delayed by a few minutes, Laviolette might not have been in such a bad mood.
That’s because Sam Bennett scored a goal in the final minute of the sixth period to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead and Florida ultimately went on to beat the Rangers 2-1 in Game 6, eliminating the Blueshirts.
