Silver Nuggets: Murray calls out Crosby and Penguins

Before the game against Carolina yesterday, Senators general manager Bryan Murray spoke to reporters about Nikita Filatov and Stéphane Da Costa. At around the 4:00 mark of the video, Murray asked the reporters a question of his own, "Nobody want to ask me about Sidney Crosby's comments?" Having been urged on, one reporter finally asked about Crosby's response and then this is what Murray said:

"The rules are very clear now. If you fall into a goaltender, you touch a goaltender, an elbow to the head, butt-end to the head is fair, it's okay. Dan Bylsma said that is okay for them, Sidney said Nick Foligno is that kind of player. I am not sure, I wish he was that kind of player. But, I thought the referees in that game, watching and hearing the comments...it was two and two. He got cross-checked four times, he fell over the goaltender there is no question. Did he get pushed? I don't know that. But he got cross-checked when he was on the ice, he got I thought looked like a butt-end but probably a full-time elbow. He punched back, Kunitz came in with a cross-check and the penalties were even at the end of the incident."

"So if Shanahan says that is a good play, that's a hockey play, Dan Bylsma says that's good for them. Pittsburgh were the biggest ones on the head injuries I thought early on, so...I am remiss, I made a mistake. We didn't have Neil and Carkner play in the game, we didn't have enough toughness. So when we play Pittsburgh, I guess, that's something you can bring up to me again before we play them next time."

Again, I will repeat, this is something Murray brought up himself. The reporters hadn't mentioned it at all and clearly feeling that it wasn't being mentioned enough, Murray ripped the Penguins apart in a rant filled with sarcasm. I for one am very happy Murray did this. Time and time again, the Penguins get the benefit of the doubt with the referees, especially against the Senators. Murray felt liberties were being taken and that the Penguins, and in particular Crosby, were being treated above the rules.

The Senators play the Penguins again in Ottawa on 16 December.

General Sens News

• Game recap from last night. (Silver Seven, Ottawa Sun, Senators Extra, Canes Country)
• Even Don Brennan was impressed with Nikita Filatov last night, saying "If Nikita Filatov skates and competes like he did in his first game back from the minors, he will never see Binghamton again." Brennan also didn't like the scheduling of a game in Canada at the same time as the Grey Cup, after there were no games on US Thanksgiving. (Ottawa Sun)
• Nikita Filatov will at least travel with the club on the upcoming three game road trip. After that, he hasn't been told anything. Hopefully he can continue to get a good chance like he got last night. (Senators Extra)
• Ken Warren also takes issue with Sidney Crosby's acceptance of some head shots. (Ottawa Citizen)
• Bruce Garrioch once again mentions that the Senators are interested in Derick Brassard. (Ottawa Sun)
• Stefan Noesen picked up eight points in three games and was among the three players considered for OHL player of the week, though he did not end up winning. (Bayshore Broadcasting)
• Mika Zibanejad scored a shorthanded goal yesterday in a 4-2 win for Djurgardens. After picking up only one point in his first six games, Zibanejad now has two in two. (Hockey Ligan)
• Mark Stone was the only Senators prospect to be invited to Canada's U20 selection camp. (TSN)

Do you agree with Bryan Murray's comments?