Torts cites Devils hits, illegal picks; DeBoer: "Comical"

Here's Torts's take on DeBoer's accusation of  Brandon Prust's "headhunting" on Anton Volchenkov in Game 3:

"Prust has played probably 300-plus games without any hearing. He's probably one of the most honest players... I look at Zubrus' elbow to Stralman; I look at Parise launching himself at Del Zotto. Maybe if our players stay down on the ice, we'll get something...

So it's...we tell our players, 'Don't stay down on the ice, get up' . The picking on the power play. Set plays. If we want to start discussing officials with the media, I have a long list here, that's a set play, so we can't get get to Kovalchuk to block shots....I don't think he (Prust) should be suspended.".

He then mentioned the Kovalchuk goal again. "Game 2 and then Cally. I brought this up already.  It's a set play. They know we're trying to block shots from a pretty good shooter...It happened to Danny, it happened to Cally. I hope we look for it. So there's some gamesmanship right there, huh?"

Brad Richards said players have mentioned the picks to referees and this of Prust. "He's defeinitely wasn't out there to headhunt. There were worse plays on the ice."

Devils coach Peter DeBoer had a one-word response: "Comical."

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Brandon Prust had a phone hearing with Brendan Shanahan and said he was happy that he received a chance to present his case.

"I was able to explain where I was coming from. I was skating over for a routine check, ...he bailed out a bit and turned, it was just kind of a reaction when you're off balance, I had no intent to hit him in the head. There was nothing vicious about it."

A decision is likely this afternoon.