Rangers 4 Sabres 2
BUFFALO – The NHL didn’t have the jam to suspend Derian Hatcher two weeks ago for throwing an elbow at Eric Lindros’ head, because it missed. Now we’ll see how the league’s disciplinary department reacts to last night’s Vaclav Varada butt-end to No. 88’s head that did not miss its target.
There was 1:20 to go in the Rangers’ impressive 4-2 victory over the Sabres when the notorious Varada, who twice earlier in the game was bounced to the ice by Lindros, came up high with his stick and clipped No. 88 just above the left eye, drawing a stream of blood. Lindros went down to the ice, cradling his face with his gloves.
Neither referee Bill McCreary nor his partner Tom Kowal saw fit to call a penalty on the play-until, that is, Lindros got up, went after Varada and spun him to the ice. Then it was Lindros called for unsportsmanlike conduct.
No matter. When the game had ended with a fourth straight victory that propelled the Blueshirts three games over .500 (10-7-1) for the first time since 1996-97, Ron Low campaigned for a harsh suspension to be delivered against Varada. And so did Theo Fleury.
“If they can claim an accident on that . . . I saw two-and-a-half feet of stick come up and clip Eric’s eye,” said Low. “That’s a 10-gamer. It was terrible. It was ridiculous.”
Fleury, who combined with linemates Lindros and Mike York to produce a dominating three-goal, seven-point night, went even further in demonizing Varada, who has already served a one-game suspension this year for charging into Montreal goaltender Jose Theodore.
“That was an absolute embarrassment to the game of hockey, that hit; that’s a 20-game suspension,” said Fleury. “They let that guy play like that all the time. He never has to pay the piper; never, ever.
“I can show you tapes from 100 games where [Varada] tries to take someone’s knee out or cross-checks somebody from behind. His No. 1 sole purpose for being on the ice is to try to hurt someone.”
Varada, for his part, said the butt-end was accidental, presenting the case that he’d never risk taking a penalty with his team down by two and trying to rally. His coach, Lindy Ruff – not quite so smart without Dominik Hasek in nets – accused Lindros of diving.
Lindros? After a brilliant game that announced his candidacy for the Hart Trophy, he wanted none of the controversy. “You saw the end of the game,” he said softly. “I have nothing to say about it.”
If Lindros had nothing to say after the game, he and his line fairly shouted with their dominance. York scored twice, once off a brilliant backhand dish from his centerman, and had two assists. Fleury scored once, off a brilliant backhand feed from his centerman, and had an assist. Lindros, who had a legitimate goal disallowed by a video judge apparently suffering from the Meadowlands Plague, had the two helpers.
“Eric was a force out there,” said Low. “So was his line.”
The Rangers have gone 6-2 over the last two weeks, outscoring the opposition 27-17, and 22-10 at even strength. The Lindros line has accounted for 14 goals and 17 assists, while the Rangers have played strong, physical hockey behind it.
“We’ve really put an emphasis on trying to make it tougher for teams to play against us,” said Low. “It’s the way we have to play.”
