Doghouse, meet Dubinsky
Rangers' Brandon Dubinsky leaves the ice after warmups before a game against the Carolina Hurricanes. (March 1, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
TAMPA---Doghouse, meet Dubinsky.
If you think John Tortorella sent Brandon Dubinsky and his teammates a message by benching him for all but 5:35 against the Hurricanes on Thursday after a throwing-the-stick penalty, the Ranger coach underlined it in bright red this evening, saying that he would've benched him tonight if he had a spare forward.
“It was just a ridiculous penalty,” Tortorella saidbefore the Rangers faced the Lightning, “at a time of the season when you got 20 games left, we need to be working on other things as far as details, than that nonsense. Quite honestly, if other people were healthy, he wouldn’t be playing tonight. As much as I like this kid, and as much as I think he can do some good things for us, we need to start seeing it…now. Not that BS…play and try to help us.”
Dubinsky, 25, offered in the proposed trade to Columbus for Rick Nash, has six goals and 19 assists in the first season of a four-year, $16.8 million contract, including one goal in the last 20 games. On Monday, Dubinsky, who scored 24 goals last season, vowed to rebound in the final 22 games and said that he’s his “own toughest critic”.
In warmups, Dubinsky was centering the fourth line with Mike Rupp and John Scott on the wings.
With Ryan Callahan missing his second game with a badly bruised and swollen foot, defenseman Scott was moved up to the wing for the second consecutive game as a fill-in. There is no extra forward beyond that.
