CALGARY, AB — The Rangers' frustration with a failed attempt on the Flames' power-play goal Thursday night was evident both immediately after the call and late in the game.
After Egor Sharangovich hit a one-timer on the man advantage to make it 2-0 just under 8 1/2 minutes into the second period, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette called for a hand pass in front of the goal.
The puck made contact with Jonathan Huberdeau, who appeared to try to catch the puck before it deflected off his glove and hit Matt Coronato.
This allowed the Flames to maintain possession and manipulate the puck in the zone before Sharangovic hit the back of the Rangers' goal.
The referee ruled that the Flames did not gain an advantage on this play, and the goal stood.
“He reached out to play the puck, went to grab it, and the puck went out of his hands and went to a player,” the Rangers said in a 3-0 game at Scotiabank Saddledome. A resolute Laviolette said after losing in 2. “Two more times during the game I got a dead call on the exact same play. Every time I get called dead. When something happens on the ice, it's called dead. I don't understand. Still minutes I don’t know.”
There were several hand pass calls after the fact, which particularly angered Vincent Trocheck.
The Rangers' second-line center expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance to officials, which led to Trocheck taking his seat in the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct at the 6:44 mark of the third period. It led to
The Rangers lost to the Flames. Sergei Belsky-Iman images
“We can't accept penalties, but yeah, we were frustrated,” Laviolette said.
Igor Shesterkin started against the Flames, making his 14th start of the season. Russia's star netminder made 46 saves on 49 shots in the loss.
Thursday night was Laviolette's 100th game against the Rangers.
His 67 wins are the most by a Rangers head coach through his first 100 games.
The Rangers have Friday night off in Edmonton and are scheduled to play the Oilers on Saturday night.
