There has been quite a commotion concerning the officiating in this first-round playoff series between the Rangers and Penguins. And though Blueshirts coach Alain Vigneault was animated on the bench following a first-period roughing call on Dominic Moore in Game 4, it was not because he thought Pittsburgh agitator Max Lapierre was embellishing and referee Francois St. Laurent had missed it — both of which happened.
“If you’re talking about that particular play, I was not upset at the call, I was upset that the referee was not letting me put my players on the ice,” Vigneault said after Thursday’s practice, as his team prepared for Game 5 on Friday night at the Garden holding a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.