Vigneault
BOSTON — While Bruins head coach Claude Julien said this morning he wouldn’t condone a player on his team taking the type of actions Maxim Lapierre did in Saturday night’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault wouldn’t express an opinion either way.
The Canucks bench boss, whose team takes a 2-0 series lead into tonight’s Game 3 at the TD Garden, claims he didn’t see Lapierre push his fingers into Patrice Bergeron’s face as a taunt related to the bite of Bergeron’s finger Vancouver’s Alex Burrows executed during Game 1.
“If that happened in between whistles, I didn’t see it,” said Vigneault. “I focus on the play that’s going on between whistles. So I can’t really comment on that.”
When asked if anyone on his team — coach or player — had spoken to him about his taunt, Lapierre today said he wouldn’t comment on the Bergeron story.
As for the Canucks’ captain Henrik Sedin, he doesn’t seem to think he can take any control of his teammates’ actions.
“I’m not on the ice with those guys. It’s tough for me to do a whole lot,” said Sedin. “If it’s going to hurt their game, that’s not good. But I think Max has been a top player in the playoffs for us. And Alex has shown what he can. So we want them to focus on hockey, that’s for sure. There’s a lot of things that happen after whistles. I’m sure … Boston does a lot of things too, so …”
Clearly Henrik has never heard of the dressing room, where all the players congregate and leaders can chat with their teammates.
Steamer you are runt with a computer. That’s it. You know nothing about being a man. I’d eat your lunch in less time than it took to read this.
Hey Arthor … I am just trying to earn my ‘Sarge’ stripes.
And I agree with @J2 assessment … Except his appraisal of ‘best one-liner yet’. He’s a better hockey critic than a literary one …
Snerd
@Arthor – best one-liner yet.
But Snerd’s got a point. Game 3, down 2-0, Defensemen looking like sand bags, Tim Thomas looking human, Forwards that have developed the mutant power of invisibility, horrible give-aways in their own zone, relying on a 43 year old for offense — The B’s have nothing to show for in their two “close” games. The games were close on the scoresheet, but not on the ice.
Snerd,
When you want to start contributing to the discussion in a way which would distinguish you from an 8-year-old you can start any time
Sarge,
You use ‘punk’ more times than Vigneault says, ‘obviously’ and ‘We’re just taking it one game at a time’ … No Sarge Gent would use ‘punk’ that much.
Snerd
Wow! We’re about to start Game 3, and the Beaners are still ‘chewing’ on the Burrows bite and whatever ‘point’ Lapierre was making …. ‘Owwww, my pinkie’ … ‘He pointed his pinkie at me … Boohoo!’
The Bruin players are trying to get refocused but their fans won’t let them.
Snerd
to clarify that last remark: complaining by Alain V *about* a Bs player….
@J2pnt0, much of what you are saying makes plenty of sense. To me the problem is with this statement: “The league chose not to suspend. Story is done.”
If only. The reason it has risen from the dead is because of Lapierre’s taunt, and more importantly (at least to me), the video the Canucks own captain filmed that makes a joke of it all. That and a bit of self-righteous (albeit commonplace) complaining of “cheap” play by a member of the Bruins.
Sarge,
Haven’t we all agreed you are 5’6″ 150 lbs soaking wet.Stop crying about what we did or are doing. Man up and try keeping up with us Canucks. You can’t tough guy
@David
Hypocrisy? Why don’t we start with Milbury beating a fan with his own shoe. Then go down the line. What about the headshots by Paille in recent history? Every team has got those moments that even their own fans don’t like. Burrows should not have done that. That’s something Burrows would’ve done 4 years ago, and he’s matured a great deal – but still doesn’t excuse him for what he did.
The league chose not to suspend. Story is done. I can’t believe Coach AV’s presser was opened up with a question about the taunt.
Vignealult was a punk as a player and he likes the same kind of guys on his team. He liked to yap at a distance when it was nice & safe. Just like the Canucks fans on the Internet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_bEhAXTlbE
marchsnd horton lucic have all done there share of questionable antics get over it b fans
Honestly Sedin’s taunt in the little introduction commercial was worse than the on ice taunt. On ice taunts happen all the time, and many of them are cheap and generally go unnoticed by fans other than body language making it clear that somebody is yapping.
As I have said before the one thing that bothers me the most about the leagues decision to pretend like Burrows didn’t bite is that it essentially turned Bergeron into a liar and a target for taunts when he was the one who was bitten. The league decided to sacrifice one of the best ambassadors for the game in order to avoid holding Burrows accountable.
Horton was at least given a fine-so the league indicated with actions that while they don’t condone what he did, they weren’t going to suspend him. I would have been perfectly satisfied had the league said they fined him but weren’t suspending him. Instead they ignored the evidence.
I do think coaches should say something though when taunts go too far. Julien has pulled Marchand aside, and Marchand has indicated Recchi, Bergeron and other leaders have reigned him in when his trash talking was pushing the edge. I think I will take my Bruins who appear to know what leadership is over the Canucks who apparently don’t care.
I’m of the opinion that far too much is being made of these little taunts bites jabs and slashes. It’s hockey. It was never a “classy” sport. But I guess people need to fill up air time and blog articles somehow…. it just seems so childish to me. This goes for both B’s fans Nucks fans (and Habs fans who’ve adopted the Nucks).
Also I think it’s beneath Claude to make any kind of a big deal about any of it. I like how he stays the course, he’s a steady coach, but he’s gotta let the things he can’t control roll of his back a little better.
MCK.
Vignault is a douche… What is that Bostonian for coaching to the presidents cup and two wins away from the grail… Obviously you’ve never been a coach or player… Name me one coach who would say.. Yeah Maxime you should not try and play head games with the bruins, you should be respectful of their feelings especially when his pinkie got hurt.
Ladies stop crying about the past… Maybe you can try and intimidate our green guys in your home turf. We told em to not go to the washrooms as that’s how you guys roll
@J2pnt0,
might be worth taking your own advice. Here in Boston, we actually skate on ponds in the winter. We have a pretty good idea of what hypocrisy is. We play in the same conference as Pittsburgh, after all.
@MCK
You’re right, I should just be one of those idiotic fans or bloggers that don’t try and see every side of the story. Everybody wins. Well, not the bruins, yet, but… fyi… there is mad respect for “original six” teams everywhere, even in Van.
Dear j2pnt0,
BITING IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE A PLAYER BLUSH. If burrows was my kid I’d give him a licking and make him spend a week wearing dresses if he wants to act like a little girl. Hockeyplayers don’t bite. Little girls do.
@J2pnto: I believe the point of the story was to point out the hypocrisy Vancouver has displayed over the past couple of games regarding “cheap” behavior. This may not appeal to all “fans who care about other teams and organizations” but that’s okay… you are certainly welcome to read the blogs about “other teams and organizations” if this one is not doing it for you.
What is inaccurate about the Lapierre taunt? No one is forcing you to read here.
Vigneault is clearly a douche. He and Boucher are cut from the same mold.
Are you kidding me? Is this your first time around hockey and hockey players? Hockey guys (yeah the ex-players turned analysts too) have done things on the ice that would make a sailor blush. And Lappy “PUSHING his fingers into Bergeron’s face”? Great journalistic integrity shown there. If your going go blog, please for our sakes (fans who care about other teams and organizations) please keep common sense within the context of the story.
WTF Henrik? His video “intro” was every bit as bush as Lapierre’s taunt, in my opinion. Even more of a mockery of the league to me, because at least it’s expected of the team “pest”… and not from the captain. I really didn’t mind the non-suspension of Burrows until I saw what a joke the Canucks made of the whole situation. Zero regret.