The New York Rangers broke a 1-1 second period tie Thursday night with a beautiful passing display that ended with Artem Anisimov having a wide open net while shorthanded. That was the good part of the play. Following his depositing of the gimme goal, Anisimov's fifth of the season, he proceeded to flip the stick around as if it were a gun, drop to a knee and simulate firing at the Lightning.
The reaction of Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier was immediate in charging at Anisimov for the gesture the young Russian forward just made against his team. There is nothing wrong with what Lecavalier did, in fact, that is exactly what a team wants their leader to do in that situation. The place where the Lightning face potential issues with the league is Steve Downie leaving the bench to get involved in the rough stuff following the Anisimov celebration.
Anisimov was wrong for being so demonstrative on such an easy goal and for the gesture that he used at any time, but it is difficult to believe there was malicious intent to the move. Lecavalier was right to stick up for his team, but Downie leaving the bench has no place.
