Ott relishes role as playoff agitator
NEW YORK It was funny when Steve Ott decided to stroke Mats Zuccarello’s hair during Game 3 of the Canadiens-Rangers playoff series Sunday night.
It was even funnier before Game 4 on Tuesday when a fan posted a Photoshopped picture on Twitter of Zuccarello’s face on a pony with Ott grooming him.
Ott is trying to turn Zuccarello into My Little Pony in a battle of instigators during this series. Heading into Game 4, Ott was winning — and so were the Canadiens, who were up 2-1 in the series.
“The game within the game,” Ott said after Tuesday’s morning skate, when asked what led him to stroke Zuccarello’s long locks after a whistle. Zuccarello didn’t like it and gave Ott a cross-check.
A female reporter asked Ott: “How soft is his hair.”
Ott responded: “You tell me. He’s a good-looking guy, isn’t he?”
The hair trick brought back memories of when Ott was with the Buffalo Sabres in 2011 and licked the visor of the Canadiens’ Jeff Halpern when they were lining up for a faceoff. Also, before Ott played for Team Canada at the world junior championship, he learned to swear in the languages of all the teams he would play against so he could really get under the opposition’s skin.
Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty said Monday that he hadn’t seen Ott’s hair trick, but wasn’t surprised when he heard about it.
“That’s the type of guy he is … he’s always bringing a good mood to the room and to the bench, and keeping things positive, and that’s very important,” Pacioretty said.
“He’s a fun player. He’s fun to have on your side. Whether it’s on the ice or in the room, he’s a guy who brings life to the room and brings character. And it helps that he’s been on so many good teams and has seen a lot of things in the league.”
Ott has also done a lot of things, but the hair stroke must be a first.