Peter Laviolette slams the isles and calls them out for vicious hits

Following an intense 4-2 loss against the New York Islanders, New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette didn't hold back, labeling two hits by Islanders players as vicious. The game had its fair share of intensity, but it was these hits that had Laviolette fuming.

In the third period, Rangers center Mika Zibanejad collided with Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech, resulting in a concerning fall to the ice for Mika Zibanejad. Laviolette, visibly upset, remarked,

It was a moment that left many questioning the nature of the collision.

When pressed if he believed it was accidental, Lavi said he did.

However, Islanders coach Patrick Roy disagreed, asserting that the collision was accidental.

Roy expressed surprise at the discussion surrounding the hit, dismissing Laviolette's remarks as stemming from frustration.

In the nail-biting final moments of the game, forward Vincent Trocheck found himself on the receiving end of a forceful hit from Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson, sending him crashing into the end boards. It was a moment that left Trocheck visibly frustrated, as he confronted referee Kelly Sutherland after the Islanders' Anders Lee sealed the game with an empty-net goal.

Describing the hit as vicious, from behind, Laviolette expressed his dismay at the physicality of the game.

However, Roy had a different perspective on the hit, asserting that the puck was in the air during the collision and suggesting that Trocheck should have anticipated the contact. Roy defended Dobson's actions, explaining that he attempted to make contact from the side rather than directly from behind.

Despite the tense moments on the ice, the game saw the Rangers capitalize on their power plays, scoring twice, while the Islanders failed to convert on their opportunities.

After voicing his frustration over the physicality of the game, Laviolette praised his team's play.

The Rangers found themselves under pressure right from the start, as the Islanders blitzed the Blueshirts for a 3-0 lead in the first period. Despite the Islanders' early lead, the Rangers fought back valiantly, capitalizing on power-play opportunities to narrow the gap.

As the game progressed, the Rangers continued to press forward, mounting relentless attacks and maintaining control of the puck. The turnover-prone Islanders depended on their goaltender to preserve their slim lead.

Suprisingly, it worked. Varlamov's 34 saves and a 1.54 goals saved above expected, and Lee's empty-net goal sealed the Islanders' victory.

The win solidified the Isles position in third place in the Metro Division, maintaining a two-point lead over the Washington Capitals.

The Rangers loss coupled with the Stars win drops their lead in the Presidents Trophy race to a point with three games remaining. The two New York rivals will meet in a highly anticipated rematch at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

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