PITTSBURGH----The news conference was winding down and Martin Straka's critical third-period interference penalty on Sidney Crosby wasn't rehashed.
So Penguins coach Michel Therrien today took it upon himself to unload and perhaps ignite a war of words.
"Where I'm kind of disappointed, that there's this gamesmanship happening before this series about Sidney drawing peanlties," Therrien began. "I'm kinda disappointed, this is a star player that plays into traffic, a powerful skater.... and we all know what (Rangers coach) Tom Renney is trying to do, he tried to do it before we started before the series, and I see his comment today."
In postgame remarks last night, Renney didn't directly respond to questions about the call that led to the power play during which Crosby's shot deflected off Evgeni Malkin's leg for the game-winner. At one point, he paused and thought, then said "Next question." He later said, "Draw your own conclusions."
But back to Therrien. "He's trying to get the attention of the referees, he complained about the penalty at the end of the game, where as far as I'm concerned, as far as we're all concerned, it's not even close. In the 1990s I could understand; they let those things go. With the new game, it's about speed, it's about to make sure good players get the chance to make plays...That's why you get young players dominate the way they dominate in the National Hockey League.
"We know what he's trying to do, but I'm convinced the referees don't buy into those things, the league doesn't buy into those things. Why don't we give credit to a guy that plays into traffic, who get a shot in face in the first period by Avery. Sometimes that's gonna be a penalty, sometimes you're not gonna get a penalty, but he's going to keep going. He's not gonna go to the outside, that's the way he is, He's not gonna take the easy road...but the tough road to try to succeed. And yesterday on that play, he tried to get a step on him (Straka) and if he didn't get hooked, he was probably going to go on a breakaway. I'm kinda disappointed he complained about it. "
Asked if he thought the insinuations showed a lack of respect for Crosby, Therrien said: "Enough is enough."
Let's clarify one thing: replays show that Scott Gomez had already dived to break up the play in the middle of the ice across the Rangers blue line and the collision between Straka and Crosby occurred behind the play and on the right side. A breakaway? Not really.
On more mundane matters, Don't expect any major changes in the Pens lineup. Gary Roberts (groin) remains day-to-day..
We'll hear from the Rangers and Renney in a hour...
Comments (9)
Guess what? Interference is still a penalty when it's behind the play. That's the definition of interference: Getting messed with away from the puck. Come on man. Why won't any team accept that they got outplayed when they play Crosby? Straka took a stupid, blatant penalty at a critical stage in the game and the Rags paid for it. You and all Rangers fans are trying to say it shouldn't have been a penalty. Even if Crosby wouldn't have even flinched after getting jocked by a shoulder and a stick to the mid section, it still would have been a penalty. Get over it.
Crosby isn't a diver?????
LOL!!
I wonder if fans at MSG will boo Crosby every time he touches the puck?
The way I see it, is that the two blown calls don't matter. NYR hit the post in the last seconds, and the pens got two lucky bounce goals and capitalized on pour defensive plays by dubie and Girardi. That's four of their five goals. You may win a game on lucky bounces or on a defensive mistake but you don't win a series that way. Both teams played well enough to win and the Pens got the two lucky bounces. Maybe tomorrow NY will get them. I have a feeling the series will not be over until 6 or 7 games. They were pretty evenly matched throughout the season so I think it's safe to say that both teams are capable of winning this series and both teams are also capable of blowing it.
also, how many of you can't stand the VS broadcasters? They don't know hockey, and they couldn't analyze their way out of a paper bag.
"...and Martin Straka wheathers the storm that is Marian Hossa".
Are you freaking kidding me? What a pack of clowns!!! As much as I couldn't stand Bill Clement and Gary Thorne I much prefer them to these idiots. Please Buttman, get that contract done with ESPN!!! In their post game, the MSG guys pointed out immediately that Straka's interference was a soft call while the VS guys were busy looking up what the hell interference was. I mean COME ON! At least get someone who knows what the hell they are talking about!
What a bunch of pathetic loosers you Ranger fans are. The Pens are better. Thats all for now.
Prucha... yeah Sid reached out and grabbed Avery's stick in the first period and jammed it into his face... that's why there was no call - You rangers fans are a bunch of babies, you don't hear pens fans complaining about that call or the highstick goal... PLAY THE GAME!
BLACK N GOLD: CIndy "Flounder" Crosby was down on the ice when Avery's stick grazed his face. Do you Pen's "fans" even watch the game or do you just tune in to get the post game wrap-up from the shills on Versus and the $h|tsburgh press? Granted, a player is responsible for his stick but its hard for a ref to call a penalty (despite Flounder's theatrics, even on that play) when Flounder's face was five inches off the ice.
CHASE: Interference can happen anywhere, but once again, do you Pen's "fans" bother to watch the game at all? If you have the technology, go watch the replay - Flounder skates into Straka and his arms and legs start flailing like a fish out of water, even before Straka's stick came near him.
DK1994,
Come on out to Old Brookville. We can recreate the Avery stick to the face on Crosby. Let's see if you don't move your head back to lessen the blow.
Oh, and by the way, because you NY Ranger fans don't seem to know the NHL rulebook. It doesn't say that it's legal to smack someone in the face with your stick if they've already been knocked to the ice.
Hey let's not be too hard on Sidney Crosby. When he's 35, washed up and the Penguins don't want him anymore he'll be an overpaid Ranger and the team will place all it's hopes on the Stanley Cup experience that he earned in Pittsburgh.