NEW YORK (AP) Rangers coach Alain Vigneault has criticized Bruins coach Claude Julien for making disparaging comments about New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist following Boston’s 4-3 win over the Rangers.
Vigneault responded to Julien’s comments prior to New York’s 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.
Boston forward Brad Marchand was penalized for goaltender interference 7:59 into the third period of Friday’s game. After the game, Julien said Lundqvist embellished the contact between the players to draw a penalty.
”It’s a little disappointing,” Vigneault said when he learned what was said after Friday’s game.
”Everybody saw the knee to the head. The comments on (Lundqvist) were very inappropriate. The way (Lundqvist) conducts himself on the ice, away from the rink, off the ice, the example that he sets. Who would you rather have as a son, Henrik (Lundqvist) or Brad Marchand?
”For him to say things like that about (Lundqvist), totally wrong and probably Claude is getting a little older and he needs to check his eyesight,” Vigneault said.
Vigneault was also disappointed that neither the on-ice officiating staff, nor the NHL’s Department of Player Safety penalized Bruins left wing Matt Beleskey for a hit on Derek Stepan that resulted in broken ribs for the Rangers center.
Vigneault said that Stepan was going to see a doctor Saturday.
”Was it a late hit? In our opinion, it definitely was,” Vigneault said.
”Should we help (Stepan) moving forward to better protect himself? We’re going to try to do that. That’s the second time that has happened,” Vigneault said.
”By the league not saying anything about the missed call on the ice or supplementary discipline, they are sending a message to the players,” he added.
Vigneault did not have an update on Stepan following Saturday’s 3-0 loss to the Flyers.
Lundqvist, who sat out the game, did speak with reporters.
”It’s a natural reaction,” Lundqvist said of the way he fell following the collision with Marchand. ”It (depends) on what angle you look at.”
Against the Flyers, Kevin Hayes was moved from the third line to centering the second line with Emerson Etem and Chris Kreider.
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