May 22, 2012, New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers Game 5 Eastern Conference Final advance for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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BRUCE BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES
Ryan Callahan shouts at New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk after the two were involved in a scrum.
The hostilities that had simmered for the first three games of the
Eastern Conference finals finally escalated to outright conflict Monday
night.
Yet the Rangers and Devils both say what took place is history as both
teams head into tonight’s Game 5 at the Garden with the series tied 2-2.
“I don’t think it’s anything I need to let go or our team needs to let
go,” said Mike Rupp, who was involved in a notable skirmish when he took
a shot at Martin Brodeur, after practice yesterday.
Although the Devils were off yesterday, Travis Zajac, Zach Parise,
Martin Brodeur, Bryce Salvador and coach Pete DeBoer spoke with
reporters.
Ryan McDonagh fought Adam Henrique in the first period, and Stu Bickel
and Ryan Carter each earned 10-minute misconducts late in the game
following Rupp’s jab to Brodeur. Ilya Kovalchuk and Ryan Callahan
exchanged punches and shouts during a scrum in the second period that
saw both assessed with roughing minors.
“We play each other so often and every game is a war against those
guys,” Zajac said “So it’s easy to get emotionally involved in playing
these guys. For me it was the first year. You have your leaders like
Marty and Patty [Elias] and those guys and see how they compete against
that team. It makes it easy to, like you said, get involved and hate
that team.”
That the Atlantic Division rivals are separated by just 14 miles and the
Hudson River certainly helps to ratchet up the mutual loathing. So,
too, does cuffing a future Hall of Famer.
Midway through the third period, during one of the few shifts in which
the Rangers were able to get the puck deep, Rupp steamrolled Peter
Harrold with what appeared to be a hard, legal check. Rupp was called
for roughing on the play.
As he skated around the net, he exchanged words with Brodeur before
punching the Devils’ netminder. A fracas ensued that saw Rupp drop a
flying Steve Bernier with a right hand while Bickel and Carter paired
off.
Rupp had two stints with the Devils, including being a member of the
franchise’s 2002-03 Stanley Cup championship-winning team. He also
played for the Devils between the 2006-07 and 2008-09 seasons.
When Brodeur was asked about his former teammate after Game 4, he said,
“Rupp doesn’t matter. I never got punched like that in my career. [I’m]
just happy I didn’t get hurt.”
The incident sparked a shouting match between DeBoer and John
Tortorella, with the Rangers coach forcefully and emphatically jabbing
his index finger towards his counterpart.
The coaches elected not to speak about the episode after the game.
Yesterday, DeBoer said “emotion takes over” when asked about the
confrontation. He added that he “took offense at what happened on the
ice, and that was my outlet, right or wrong.”
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1143780--rangers-shout-at-the-devils
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:49 PM
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