Former NHLer Paul Bissonnette told upset Rangers fans to shut up.
Bissonnette, a TNT analyst and host of the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, wasn’t happy with two plays in the second half during the Isles’ crucial 4-2 win Tuesday night at UBS Arena. He blamed Rangers fans.
Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech was disrespected for a collision with Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, and fellow Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson was penalized for hitting Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck from behind. It was not given, leading to the Islanders scoring the final goal.
Bissonnette’s tweet clearly stated which play he was referring to, but his point remained the same.
“Rangers fans are crying about that hit at the end of the game. Hey, hey, (Jacob) Trouba does that to his players every shift, you guys are smoking stones, rest, just lose.” Accept it.” Bissonnette, a former left winger with the Penguins and Coyotes, tweeted Tuesday night.. “Win gracefully, lose gracefully.”
Bissonnette may have been referring to either play, as both occurred in the third period, infuriating the Rangers and their fans.
The first controversial play occurred when Zibanejad slipped in the middle of the ice before colliding with Pelech, causing the Rangers center to fall to the ice and lose control of his stick.
Rangers manager Peter Laviolette was not happy with the ball, calling it “vicious.”
“(Zibanejad) finally came back from that bad blow, yeah, he came back,” Laviolette said. “I took that damn shoulder elbow to the head. Look.”
Islanders coach Patrick Roy does not believe there was any malicious intent behind the play, which is consistent with Bissonnette’s view of the collision.
“It was a coincidence,” Roy said. “The referee was in a very good position to see it. He saw it. I was more scared that Perry would get hurt. [Zibanejad’s] What attacked Perry. I think what happened was the opposite. ”
He added, “To be honest, I don’t know why I’m talking about this. I was a little surprised because in my head I thought it was just a coincidence. If you want, we can talk for an hour.” , I think it’s a waste of time. It was a coincidence. That’s it, that’s it, next question.”
The second goal came in the final minute when Dobson hit Trocheck from behind, giving the Islanders an empty-net goal.
Trocheck expressed his displeasure to the umpires after the no-call, and Laviolette also criticized the ball as malicious.
“I think we owned the game,” he said. “The puck was on our sticks the entire second and third period. It was tough having to go through all of that tonight. What we’re talking about is tough. But our guys kept fighting until the end.”
This is not the first time Bissonnette has been critical of Rangers-centric topics, calling the team a “fraud” in September and predicting they would miss the playoffs this season.
“I think [goaltender Igor] Shesterkin is tired of saving bacon. I think it’s all a scam. I don’t like their depth at all. Their fan base is a fraud, their team is a fraud,” Bissonnette said. “They are finished. [Metropolitan Division] It’s too strong. Fugazis. There are no playoffs for you, and [Rangers owner James] Dolan would have a meltdown.
“This is exactly how I want the season to end.”
The Rangers entered Wednesday’s game with an NHL-leading 110 points and were looking to hold off the Bruins and Hurricanes (107 points each) for the No. 1 seed in the East and the Stars for the Presidents spot. , these predictions couldn’t have been any more wrong. ‘ Trophy.
The rift between the two teams will likely be resolved in the coming days before they meet again Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
