Former NHLer Paul Bissonnette told any upset Rangers fans to pipe down.
Bissonnette, a TNT analyst and host on the “Spittin’ Chiclets” podcast, called out Rangers fans who were not pleased with two late plays during the Isles’ crucial 4-2 win Tuesday night at UBS Arena.
Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech drew scorn for his collision with Rangers center Mika Zibanejad, and fellow Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson hit Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck from behind but did not receive a penalty, which led to the Islanders tallying their final goal.
Bissonnette’s tweet did clearly state which play he was referring to, although his point remained.
“Rangers fans crying about that hit at the end of the game come on (Jacob) Trouba does that to guys every shift are you guys smoking rocks give it a rest just take the loss,” Bissonnette, a former left winger for the Penguins and Coyotes, tweeted Tuesday night. “Win with grace lose with grace.”
Bissonnette could have been referring to either play since both happened in the third period and both left the Rangers and their fans fuming.
The first controversial play happened when Zibanejad skated in the middle of the ice before colliding with Pelech, which caused the Rangers center to fall to the ice and lose control of his stick.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette called the hit “vicious” and was not pleased.
“(Zibanejad) came back at the end from that vicious hit, yeah, he came back,” Laviolette said. “That vicious shoulder elbow to the head. Watch it.”
Islanders coach Patrick Roy did not believe there was any malice behind the play, which is in line with how Bissonnette viewed the collision.
“It was accidental,” Roy said. “The referee was in a really good position to see it. He saw it. I was more afraid that Pelly might get hurt on that one. [Zibanejad’s] the one that hit Pelly. It was the opposite, I think, what happened.”
He added: “I don’t know why we’re talking about this, quite honestly. I’m a little surprised because it was clear in my mind that it was accidental. We could talk about it for an hour if you want to, but I think we’re wasting our time. It was accidental. That’s it, that’s all, next question.”
The second happened in the final minute when Dobson hit Trocheck into the boards from behind, which allowed the Islanders to score an empty-net goal.
Trocheck voiced his displeasure to the referees after the non-call, and Laviolette called that hit vicious too.
“I think we owned the game,” he said. “The puck was on our sticks the entire second and third periods. It was hard out there tonight having to get through all of that. What we’re talking about, it was hard, but our guys kept fighting and battling until the end.”
This isn’t the first time Bissonnette has been critical with a Rangers-centric topic, having called the team “frauds” in September and predicting they would miss the playoffs this season.
“I think [goaltender Igor] Shesterkin is tired of saving their f–king bacon. I think they’re all frauds. I don’t like their depth at all. Their fan base are frauds, their team are frauds,” Bissonnette said. “They’re done. The [Metropolitan Division] is too strong. F–k the fugazis. No playoffs for you, and then [Rangers owner James] Dolan’s going to have a meltdown.
“Exactly how I want the season to end.”
Those predictions could not have been more wrong as the Rangers entered Wednesday with an NHL-leading 110 points as they attempt to hold off the Bruins and Hurricanes (107 points each) for the No. 1 seed in the East and the Stars for the Presidents’ Trophy.
The bad blood between the teams will only have a few days to simmer as they meet again Saturday at Madison Square Garden.