Frans Nielsen and Islanders coach Jack Capuano were both plenty steamed at referee Mike Leggo in the second period on Sunday. Nielsen had a shorthanded breakaway that Mats Zuccarello tried to disrupt by getting his stick around Nielsen’s waist; Zuccarello left the stick there, flapping around Nielsen as he tried to sneak a backhand through Rangers goalie Antti Raanta.
That’s usually more than enough for a penalty or, more likely in that situation, a penalty shot. Leggo and trailing ref Greg Kimmerly let the play slide and Capuano lost his cool on the bench.
“He didn’t think it was a penalty, though he wasn’t sure,” Nielsen said after Isles’ 6-4 win, which included a late Rangers power-play goal to tie the game.