The Rangers got a mark on their record that they are none too pleased with.
During Sunday afternoon’s 4-2 loss to the Flyers in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series, the Blueshirts were called for two embellishment penalties, just the second time in league history a team has been called for more than one in the same game.
Trying to rid themselves of the reputation as divers, they rebuked both calls after Monday’s optional practice as they prepared for Game 3 in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
“I’m not sure if [the referees] changed their mind after [the Flyers] started yelling,” said Derek Dorsett, who was called for the second dive 11:41 into the second period when he was cross-checked from behind by Wayne Simmonds, who was also penalized. “I watched the one replay, and I don’t think there was any embellishment. Whether I went down easy or not, it wasn’t a dive.”
The first call of the night went on diminutive forward Mats Zuccarello, who was shoved 8:40 into the second period by Philadelphia defenseman Andrew MacDonald near the right goal post. MacDonald gave Zuccarello a one-handed nudge, and the 5-foot-6 Norwegian went down, drawing an interference call on MacDonald and Zuccarello’s simultaneous dive.
“I didn’t agree with that call,” Zuccarello said. “But it’s fast hockey out there. Refs make mistakes, like we do. There’s nothing we can do now.
“But I think everybody that watches me play knows I’m not a diver,” he continued, “so I think you get pretty irritated right there, when you think it’s a bad call. But right now, I don’t think about it.”
With the series tied one game apiece, the Rangers are now moving on from these calls, with much larger concerns.
“It’s a new game coming up tomorrow,” Zuccarello said, “and that’s all I have on my mind.”