There are a few ways a coach can respond to a loss during
the playoffs. Coaches can praise the
opposition, build up their own teams efforts or they can go off and talk about
something that has nothing to with what goes on at ice level. Apparently Washington Washington Capitals
head coach Bruce Boudreau decided the best way to deal with yesterday’s Game 3
loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden was to insult the building and New
York fans. In an interview with the Washington's 105.9 Radio morning
talk show, Boudreau said MSG did not live up to the hype:
“Well, the one thing, its reputation is far better than the actual building,” the coach said. “I mean, it’s nothing. The locker rooms are horrible. The benches are horrible. There’s no room for anything. But the reputation of being in Madison Square Garden is what makes it famous. Also, our building’s a lot louder, too. So I mean, they can say what they want, but it’s not that loud in there.”
The Garden did not
get the reputation because of state of the art facilities, but for the number
of historic events that have taken place there.
Maybe if he and his team were more concerned about putting some history
in his building instead of the accommodations they get the playoff success of
his team would be a little better over the past few years.
If Boudreau thinks
the Garden was quiet yesterday when Brandon Dubinsky put in the game winning
goal to make this a series, then he needs a hearing aid. All he did with these comments is find an
excuse for it to get louder on Wednesday because the New York fans will take
these comments personally and let him have it.
Maybe he has grown accustomed to horns and cowbells as a replacement for
actual cheering so he is confused by fans that don’t feel the need to create
fake noise or bang the glass incessantly.
There is no doubt
that facilities at MSG need a revamp, which is why the renovations are
coming. To go a step further and insult
the New York fans all in an attempt to distract from his team losing yesterday
and the discussion of previous year’s playoff failures is over the line.
