Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos react to the line brawl off the opening faceoff between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils last week. Mika Zibanejad is helped off the ice after a collision against the New York Islanders on April 9. [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjA1NjQxMTk0MDA3NDM4ODc3/usatsi_22986017.jpg] Mika Zibanejad is helped off the ice after a collision against the New York Islanders on April 9. The New York Rangers' Stanley Cup hopes may have been dealt a blow on Tuesday when Miikka Zibanejad left the third period of a 4-2 loss after colliding with New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech. And according to Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, they were "vicious" blows. When asked about Zibanejad's health status, Laviolette used the opportunity to tell reporters what he really thought of the not-so-accidental hit. "He came back at the end, yeah, from that vicious hit," said Laviolette. "He came back. That vicious shoulder-elbow to the head. Watch it." A reporter then asked if Laviolette thought the hit was intentional, which he answered: "I do." Zibanejad and Pelech were both skating through the neutral zone when they collided around center ice. Neither player had the puck. And neither looked like they saw one another. Zibanejad took the worst of the hit, with Pelech's right elbow and shoulder making contact with Zibanejad's head. It wasn't the only questionable hit in a game between the two New York-based teams. Down a goal in the dying seconds of the third period and looking for the equalizer, Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck was hammered from behind into the boards by Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson. Surprisingly, no penalty was called on the play. Making matters worse, the Islanders then skated up the ice and scored on the empty net to seal the victory. "Vicious. From behind," Laviolette told reporters. "Both." [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmm55gsIaI4[/embed] Laviolette's frustration may have less to do with the hits and more so with losing to a team that is 15 points below them in the standings — and which could be a potential first-round opponent if the Rangers end up dropping a spot in the standings. After all, with Blake Wheeler and Filip Chytil both out, the injuries are starting to pile up at the absolute time for a team that is hoping to avoid another first-round exit. "Sometimes, frustration makes you say things," Islanders coach Patrick Roy told reporters, following the team's fifth-straight win. You be the judge: were the hits "vicious"?
