Rangers coach Peter Laviolette called two hits by Islanders players \"vicious\" after an 4-2 loss on Tuesday night.
With 11:09 left in the third period, Rangers center Mika Zibanejad skated into the shoulder of Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech at center ice while both were watching play down in the Rangers\' zone.
Zibanejad fell flat to the ice and Rangers training staff tended to him. Zibanejad left for the dressing room and didn\'t return to the ice for the rest of the period, although he did return to the Rangers\' bench near the end of the game, according to Laviolette.
\"He came back at the end from that vicious hit. He came back. That vicious shoulder, elbow to the head. Watch it,\" the coach said.
When asked if he felt it was less an accidental collision with Pelech and more an intentional hit, Laviolette said, \"I do.\"
Via espn.com