It wasn’t your usual mid-period playoff interview with Rangers coach Peter Laviolette Saturday night with the Rangers’ season on the line.
While ESPN on-ice reporter Emily Kaplan asked Laviolette how the Rangers were playing late in the first period of their Eastern Conference Game 6 final clash against the host Panthers, a young fan Shirtless Florida man bending and smiling in the background.
“And his guys behind us,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said with a laugh. “He likes the interview more than you do,” Kaplan responded.
during the first period of Game 6. @CamandStrick/x
A good-natured Laviolette then finished the short interview and then ended it by playfully tapping the glass with a smile to the youngster.
“Peter Laviolette had to deal with the muscle of the Florida Panthers on the ice and he was the muscle behind him in the stands,” ESPN play-by-player Dan Schulman said to end the cute segment.
Laviolette might not have been in such a good mood if the interview had taken place a few minutes later.
That’s because Sam Bennett’s goal in the final minute of the period gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
New York Post
