‘Fun is done’ for Glass with Neil in lineup
Chris Neil stepped on the ice for the optional skate Monday morning at Madison Square Garden, but it was a brief stay.
Tuesday night, he is hopeful he gets another chance.
The 37-year-old veteran winger didn’t play a lot in Saturday’s 5-4 OT victory over the New York Rangers in Game 5 at Canadian Tire Centre, but if you listen to his teammates his mere presence meant the world to the Senators.
“When you get the call to go in, it’s exciting, especially at this time of year,” said Neil, who played only 2:26 Saturday and was given a misconduct when New York’s Tanner Glass refused to drop the gloves in the second period.
Brought into the lineup because Glass was running around before fighting Kyle Turris in the final minutes of a 4-1 victory for the Rangers, Neil wanted to send a message to the gritty New York forward in Game 5. However, he couldn’t find a willing participant. That didn’t surprise Neil.
“No, not at all,” Neil said. “He’s got a job to do out there as well. He’s played well, he’s come in and made a difference and I think especially on home ice he’s made a big difference for them. Watching the games, for me, I didn’t like what he did to Kyle and if you guys had the camera on me up in the press box you would have seen that. For me, I don’t like guys taking liberties with my guys and the way the play (happened) if I was in his boat, I’d probably do the same thing. I’ve got to go out and let him know. It is what it is.”
Was Neil able to deliver that message?
“He’s still going to play hard. That’s why he’s been around and other teams have wanted him over the years. He’s moved around a bit because of the type of player that he is. It’s not just the Tanner Glass show over there, it’s the New York Rangers.
“They’ve got a good team over there and when he got back in the lineup, he came in and made difference.
“For me, I just wanted to let him know his fun is done.”
I didn’t like what he did to Kyle (Turris) and if you guys had the camera on me up in the press box you would have seen that.