BOSTON — The last meeting between the Rangers and Bruins ended in controversy, with Boston defenseman Andrew Ference ejected for a hit on New York counterpart Ryan McDonagh and the Rangers converting the ensuing power play for the game-winner with just 3.6 seconds left in overtime.
McDonagh did not miss a game, while Ference was suspended by the league for three games. That action by the NHL appears sufficient to all involved, as neither team expects any further retribution when the Original Six rivals clash again at the Garden on Tuesday.
"I don't think so," Bruins coach Claude Julien said after Boston's morning skate when asked if he expected any carryover from the hit. "I think both teams realize that it was a hit that first of all, he got suspended for it, and I also think both teams realize it wasn't something that was malicious and done on purpose. [Ference] understands after the fact that he should have maybe slowed down a little bit, but he didn't go in there trying to injure a player."
Even McDonagh shares that viewpoint.
"It's part of the game," McDonagh said after the Rangers' skate. "Things are going to happen out there. That's no intent to injure. He's just trying to play hard for his team."
Tuesday's game is still likely to be a physical affair. There's plenty on the line with the top two teams in the East colliding for the second of four meetings this year. And the Rangers and Bruins aren’t just 1-2 in the standings, they’re also 1-2 in the league in fighting majors this season.
So it won't be a surprise to see the gloves drop again in this one. Just don't expect it to be in revenge for Ference's hit last month.
"I think the page has been turned on that," Julien said. "I would suspect it is. We certainly didn't like seeing a guy go down. You don't like to see those injuries. We were glad to hear he was back playing the next game. That's the whole goal, to try to minimize the injuries. To me, that's certainly not the key point of [Tuesday's] game, because there's a lot more at stake than that."
McDonagh agreed with that as well. "It's in the back of your mind obviously, but I'm more worried about winning the game," McDonagh said.
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