The Rangers were dealt a major scare on Tuesday night when Mike Zibanejad went down at center ice in the third period after a collision with Adam Pelech, but Zibanejad avoided a potential concussion in the eventual overtime loss to the Islanders.
Zibanejad seems to be okay, but Blueshirts head coach Peter Laviolette didn’t hold back when asked about the collision with Pelech after the game.
“He came back at the end - from that vicious hit, yeah,” Laviolette said after a long pause to contemplate his response. “He came back. That vicious shoulder elbow to the head. Watch it.”
Asked if he believed it was intentional from Pelech, Laviolette didn’t hesitate.
“I do. Vicious,” Laviolette said. “From behind. Both.”
Islanders head coach Patrick Roy had a much different opinion, believing the collision was purely unintentional, while Laviolette seemed to think it was meant to look like an accident.
“Accidental,” Roy said. “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. He was the one who hit Pelly…It was totally accidental, there's no doubt in my mind…but sometimes, frustration makes you say things.”
Roy was asked again about the hit, and once again made it clear that he felt Pelech did nothing wrong.
“I don't know why we're talking about this, quite honestly,” Roy said. “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.”