Devils coach Peter DeBoer was asked a number of questions today about the rivalry between his team and the New York Rangers – a rivalry that was on full display Monday in Newark.
Specifically, reporters wanted to know about the yelling match he had with John Tortorella after Rangers forward Mike Rupp took a shot at Martin Brodeur in the third period of Game 4.
“I think emotion takes over,” said DeBoer. “I took offense at what happened on the ice, and that was my outlet, right or wrong.”
And given the rivalry, does he think it could happen again?
“I don’t anticipate any more of that,” he said. “I think the stakes are too high going forward here for any of that stuff to show up. But you never know.”
DeBoer knows discipline has been a big key for the Devils this postseason. In the second round, they kept their cool while the Flyers lost theirs. In Games 3 and 4 of the current series, they had 11 combined power-play opportunities to New York’s three.
“I think the most important thing for us is the young guys learning to manage their emotions against a rival like the Rangers,” he said. “And I think we’ve done a very good job of that.”