December 6, 2011, Toronto Maple Leafs-New York Rangers notebook.
x
Among the most hotly debated issues in the game is whether no-touch icing or hybrid icing should be implemented.
Add Michael Del Zotto to the chorus that believes the current rule must be changed.
“I think we’re trying to battle for that, but it’s another rule in the game, something we have to deal with,” said Del Zotto about a late third-period race for the puck against Leafs center David Steckel that ended with the Rangers defenseman lying prone on the ice for several moments.
“I know there’s a lot of rules [the NHLPA] are talking about getting changed. I know, as a whole, as defensemen, that’s a rule to be different. It’s something we have to deal with and we’ll address it later on,” Del Zotto added. “I’ll be fine.”
Others have not been so fortunate.
The most notable injury was then-Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster suffered a broken left femur in a March 2008 game against San Jose when Sharks center Torrey Mitchell shoved Foster into the end boards in order to prevent an icing.
The Edmonton Oilers lost defenseman Taylor Fedun for the season with a broken right leg suffered in a preseason game against the Minnesota Wild. Engaged in a race with then-Wild right wing Eric Nystrom, Fedun’s skate and Nystrom’s stick became intertwined and the Oilers defenseman slammed into the end boards. Fedun was taken off the ice on a stretcher.
NHL realignment approved
The National Hockey League announced after the game that the Board of Governors formally approved a realignment plan that would create four conferences.
The plan, in which there are two eight-team conferences and two seven-team conferences, calls for each team to play home-and-away games against every team outside of its conference. In the seven-team conferences, each team will play the others six times -- three at home and three away. For the eight-team conferences, if a team played a particular opponent six times in a single season it would only play that team five times the following year. Finally, the top four teams in each conference will qualify for the playoffs.
The Rangers will be in a conference that includes Washington, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Carolina, New Jersey and the New York Islanders.
Game Notes
The Rangers wore their road white jerseys. … Brandon Prust fought Jay Rosehill 2:05 into the match. The Rangers were 7-0-0 when Prust fought within the first two minutes of a game. … John Mitchell wore a visor for the second game in a row after blocking a shot with his forehead against Carolina last Thursday. Mitchell received seven stitches to close the gash. …Actor Steve Schirripa and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones were among the announced 18,2000 in attendance, along with former Rangers goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck. Vanbiesbrouck will play for the Rangers alumni against the Flyers alumni as part of the Winter Classic festivities. …HBO began its month-long embedding with the Rangers yesterday.
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for updates on all three local teams.
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:41 AM
<< Home