Category: Stanley Cup Playoffs

Rangers' Peter Laviolette Had In-Game Interview Upstaged by Shirtless Panthers Fan
2 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Rangers’ Peter Laviolette Had In-Game Interview Upstaged by Shirtless Panthers Fan

New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette had his in-game interview with ESPN's Emily Kaplan upstaged by a shirtless Florida Panthers fan during his team's season-ending, 2–1 loss to Florida at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday night.

While there likely weren't many things making him laugh on Saturday night, Laviolette couldn't help but chuckle as the young Panthers fan flexed his biceps in the background, making it nearly impossible for any viewers to focus on the interview.

"How about this guy behind us?" Laviolette said with a laugh.

"He likes the interview more than you do," Kaplan, perfectly playing off of the situation, replied.

Here's the funny moment, courtesy of Bleacher Report's account on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Laviolette proceeded to conduct the interview, as the young Panthers fan continued to go full muscleman in the background.

Then, after the interview was finished, the Rangers coach bumped the glass in front of the young fan before walking back to the bench.

Unfortunately for Laviolette, the flexing fan was the one who went home happy, as the Panthers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, where they will await the winner of the Dallas Stars-Edmonton Oilers conference finals series, which Edmonton currently leads 3-2.

Florida Panthers, New York Rangers, NHL, Peter Laviolette, Stanley Cup Playoffs
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Bryan Rust Thinks Penguins Would've Upset Rangers If They Made Playoffs Over Capitals
29 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Bryan Rust Thinks Penguins Would’ve Upset Rangers If They Made Playoffs Over Capitals

The Pittsburgh Penguins were not a participant in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs, having missed out on the postseason after coming up short in a wild-card race that went down to the wire in the Eastern Conference.

At least one player on the team seems to think that the Penguins would've made a better showing than some teams that did qualify for this year's playoffs.

Winger Bryan Rust said Wednesday that he thinks Pittsburgh could've staged an upset of the New York Rangers in the first round of the playoffs had they snuck in as the final playoff team.

During an interview with gamer Ninja, Rust said that he felt the Penguins matched up well with the Rangers, who have gone on to the Eastern Conference Final.

"I think we would've beat the Rangers," Rust said. "It is a matchup thing. You look across the league and there's some teams that you do well against and teams that you don't. And I feel like the Rangers would've been good for us, if we could've figure out our penalty kill against their power play."

Across three regular-season matchups this year, New York held a 2–1 record against the Penguins. Still, Rust made clear he thinks that Pittsburgh would've matched up well with the Rangers, and maybe given them a closer fight than that of the Washington Capitals, who were brushed aside in four games.

Bryan Rust, New York Rangers, NHL, Pittsburgh Penguins, Stanley Cup Playoffs
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David Pastrnak Had Commendable Response to Getting Called Out by Bruins Coach
5 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

David Pastrnak Had Commendable Response to Getting Called Out by Bruins Coach

Before he made the TD Garden crowd jump out of their seats on Saturday night, David Pastrnak's own seat was rather hot.

The 10-year NHL veteran—and two-time All-Star—was called out by Boston Bruins coach Jim Montgomery following his second straight scoreless effort in Game 6, also Boston's second straight loss in the series.

"Your best players need to be your best players this time of year," Montgomery said. "I think the effort is tremendous and they need to come through with some big-time plays in big-time moments. I think Marchand has done that in the series. Pasta needs to step up."

Step up, Pastrnak did, as he was there when the Bruins, who defeated the Maple Leafs 2—1 to advance to the second round, needed him most.

Locked in a tight battle with the Maple Leafs that saw the teams go two full periods without a goal scored, Pastrnak, with 1:54 remaining in overtime, skated past the Maple Leafs defense and showed off some nifty stick work, scoring on a backhand shot after an assist from Hampus Lindholm to win the game—and the series—for Boston.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Pastrnak had a commendable response when asked about being called out by Montgomery.

"Jimmy, you know, he said the stuff he did after Game 6," Pastrnak said. "And I told him, 'If I'm the coach and you were me, I would say the same things,' so I had no problem with him saying that."

"He's trying to bring the best out of every single player and he expects more. I just took it as a man and tried to be better. I admitted I need to be better and I still have ways to be better."

Pastrnak, 27, scored three goals in the series. The Bruins will next take on the Florida Panthers on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET.

Boston Bruins, David Pastrnak, Stanley Cup Playoffs, Toronto Maple Leafs
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