PHILADELPHIA — So Daniel Carcillo was able to get a free shot at Ruslan Fedotenko’s head 1:06 into the third period of last night’s game apparently because he was looking down in the left circle trying to find the puck.
“I was trying to shoot the first time, I thought that was hooking, then the second time it was a shot to the head,” Fedotenko said after the Rangers’ 4-1 loss to the Flyers. “I’m sure the NHL will legally review it and see if it’s a clear shot to the head or not. I’m sure it will be addressed.”
A bit later following a stop in play, Fedotenko was addressed by Marc Joannette, one-half of the referee tandem including Justin St. Pierre that did not make a call.
“He said I shouldn’t try to avoid the hit,” Fedotenko said. “I mean, I was looking for the puck and trying to shoot it so I didn’t even see him coming until the last second.
” ‘Don’t duck,’ ” was his explanation.
Carcillo, meanwhile, pleaded innocence.
“I saw him in the middle of the ice and the puck was right there,” he said. “He kind of went down when I got to him.
“My elbows were in,” he said. “I know it looks bad, but I didn’t try to hit his head or anything. It is what it is. It’s not like I took strides toward him. I know they’re cracking down on that, so I imagine I’ll get a phone call [from VP Colin Campbell].”
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Carcillo fought Brandon Prust
at 3:32 after declining to go with Derek Boogaard
.
The Rangers’ heavyweight had his appointment bout with Jody Shelley
at 3:16 of the first, and then was hit with a ticky-tack slash on Shelley midway through the second when the Flyers’ puncher refused a rematch.
After allowing two power play goals while short five times, the Rangers have killed only 40 of 53 shorthanded situations and are fourth from the bottom of the league at 75.5 percent.
“We go through stretches where we’re really good but then they come in bunches,” coach John Tortorella said. “It’s not like there are a ton of chances, but it’s something we can be better at. We have some things to do work on.
“Our PK has given us a pretty strong foundation the last couple of years. We have to get back to it.”
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Michael Del Zotto
played just two brief shifts in the second after turning the puck over deep in the zone to Blair Betts
at 9:32 of the second before the former Ranger buried his own rebound to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. The sophomore defenseman took a regular turn in the third.
Marian Gaborik
, who skated with the club in the morning but still has pain the left shoulder that was separated on Oct. 15, said he hopes to be able to rejoin the lineup during the four-game homestand that begins Sunday and goes through a week from Sunday.
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Tortorella’s overall take on last night’s match: “For all the hype about it, it was a crappy game. Though I’m sure they don’t think so.”