NEW YORK -- In advance of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final, the coaches put on a show. First Rangers coach Alain Vigneault fired back at the Canadiens, dismissing the assertion by Montreal counterpart Michel Therrien that there is a gentlemans agreement among coaches that they not watch the other team practise on off-days. And he said Therriens comments that Montreal knows where Rangers forward Derick Brassard was hurting might come back to haunt the Habs coach. "Let me put it this way. I just hope nothing happens to (Brassard) or Michel could be in trouble," a feisty Vigneault said. The coaches friendship, he suggested, was on hold. "I think (Therrien) said prior to the series, for this two-week period, were not really friends and hes probably right," Vigneault, whose smile seemed a little forced, said after the morning skate Sunday. Vigneault was followed by a grinning Therrien, who looked to kill his rival coach with kindness. "Alain Vigneault, first of all hes a good friend," said Therrien. "Im privileged to be one of his friends. Hes an important person in my life. Hes one of the guys that pushed for me to get into pro hockey. And I will respect that. "And over the years, we become great great friends. And Ive got tons of respect for him. And hes a good coach. But right now were battling for the same thing ... Weve got to put our friendship aside, for what two weeks? But Im sure when everythings done and over, as soon as get a chance to see each other, were going to have a nice cold beer, like we did in the past. "Nothing is going to change, but right now were competing for the same goal. And thats normal." Vigneault, renowned for his calmness, has had a bee under his bonnet in recent days. In three games -- the Rangers led 2-1 going into Game 4 -- there has been one surgery, two suspensions and a lot of talk. The Rangers coach seemed to have a chip on his shoulder Sunday. He has lamented the officiating that led to a Game 3 flare-up which resulted in Brandon Prust breaking Derek Stepans jaw and Rangers forward Dan Carcillo being suspended for jostling a linesman in the aftermath. "Were trying to play whistle to whistle," Vigneault said. "Were trying to do the right things. I know in the hockey world we were painted as dishonest and dishonourable. Were not. We follow the rules. We follow the rules on the ice, and we will follow the rules off the ice." The Habs have complained about the Rangers play, questioned some of their injuries and looked to get under their skin at every turn. "Hockey is a beautiful game," Vigneault said. "Its done by great competitors on both teams. I wish a lot of this stuff didnt happen." It has been a series where the two coaches have hardly said a word without considering their impact. While Prust was awaiting a league sanction for his hit, Vigneault detailed the extent of Stepans injury. After Carcillo asked that his 10-game ban be reviewed by commissioner Gary Bettman, Vigneault questioned the role of linesman Scott Driscoll in the play. Therrien dismissed the suggestion that the Habs may be looking to capitalize on Brassards return to the lineup from injury. "Hes a good player. There is no free pass. Were in the playoffs. But the intention is not to hurt the guy. I mean, come on," he said. "We have to play Derick Brassard hard like we have to play all those New York Rangers hard with emotion and the best playoff hockey," he added. Therrien said he was giving Vigneault some of his own medicine. "I was saying the same thing Alain said about Carey Price, that he knew before, he knew what the injury was and that the hockey world its a small world," he said. "Its true, its a small world. So we knew exactly what happened to Derick Brassard. And by the way, hes a good player. Hes an important player." As for the Canadiens asking the Rangers assistant coaches to leave Montreals practice Saturday, Vigneault responded Sunday by saying his staff was treated unfairly. "There is no rule. There was no agreement between both teams. That is the exception not the rule." If there is a deal, its only because the opposing coach or GM calls to ask for it. "Never happened," he added. Vigneault called the Montreal behaviour regrettable, adding it was lucky the situation did not escalate. Therrien stuck to his guns, although he did say perhaps there was a breakdown in communication. According to TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, NHL Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell met with Therrien and Canadiens GM Marc Bergervin on Sunday to discuss the issue. "My staff and my coaching staff were under the impression that there is a gentlemans agreement. So probably there was a miscommunication. ... But from our standpoint, we still believe that there is a gentlemans agreement." Asked about personnel, Vigneault said Stepan was recovering at home from surgery although he had visited his teammates Sunday morning. Dominic Moore was expected to move up and replace Stepan with J.T. Miller replacing Carcillo on the fourth line. Therrien was asked zero questions about his lineup, with all the talk on the gamesmanship in the series. Michael Bournival is expected to replace Prust, who was suspended for two games for the Stepan hit. NOTES: Sunday marked 20 years since Mark Messier, after promising the win, scored a natural hat trick to help the Rangers defeat the New Jersey Devils 4-2 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final. Dennis Johnson Jersey . According to a release sent by the league, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were the only team to exceed the cap. Their total salary expenditure of $4,417,975 was $17,975 over the salary cap of $4. Robert Parish Jersey . He spent the rest of the game making up for lost playing time. Green scored a career-high 36 points, including eight in overtime, and the Phoenix Suns beat Denver 112-107 on Tuesday night to hand the Nuggets their fifth consecutive loss. http://www.celticssale.com/kids-larry-bird-celtics-jersey/ .ca! There is plenty of blame to be shared as a result of the most recent NHL player (Pittsburghs Brooks Orpik) to be evacuated from the ice on a stretcher following an ugly incident Saturday night in Boston. Robert Williams Celtics Jersey .That sight softened the blow of what ended up as a 4-3 shootout loss to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.Knowing their teammate was fine after a scary headfirst fall in the opening minute of the game helped calm the Maple Leafs. Shaquille ONeal Celtics Jersey . I kind of got a taste of being able to pick a suit with the draft lottery, I went with the bow tie.LONDON, Ont. -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Mitchell Marner and Max Domi also scored for the Knights in regulation (44-12-5) while Ryan Rupert clinched the win with Londons second shootout goal. Londons Jake Patterson made 22 saves for the win. Jack Flinn gave the Attack (26-26-8) a chance to win by stopping 52-of-55 shots. Daniel Milne scored twice for Owen Sound and Kurtis Gabriel added the other. Both clubs went 0 for 3 on the power play. --- FRONTENACS 10 BULLS 2 KINGSTON, Ont. -- Sam Bennett scored three times as the Frontenacs used a five-goal first period to crush Belleville. Darcy Greenoway and Henri Ikonen each had a goal and two assists for Kingston (33-22-4) while Mikko Vainonen, Ryan Verbeek, Robert Polesello, Corey Pawley and Spencer Watson added the others. Lucas Perissini stopped 37-of-39 shots for the Frontenacs. Cameron Brace scored both goals for the Bulls (19-36-6) as Michael Giugovaz allowed all 10 goals on 39 shots against. --- COLTS 2 WHALERS 1 (SO) PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 49 shots for the Whalers, but gave up the winner to Zach Hall in the third round of the shootout as Barrie won for the first time in three outings. Andreas Athanasiou forced overtime for the Colts (32-26-3) when he scored at 5:20 of the third period. Plymouths (24-30-7) Zach Lorentz opened the scoring at 6:04 of the second. Mackenzie Blackwood made 35 saves for Barrie. --- OTTERS 4 STING 3 SARNIA, Ont. -- Dane Fox scored twice, including his 58th of the season at 19:22 of the third period to break a 3-3 deadlock, as Erie edged the Sting. Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist for the Otters (45-144-2) and Travis Wood scored the other.dddddddddddd Nickolas Latta, Hayden Hodgson and Vladislav Kodola scored for Sarnia (16-39-6) and Nikolay Goldobin tacked on two assists. Eries Oscar Dansk made 18 saves for the win as Taylor Dupuis stopped 33-of-37 shots in defeat. --- SPIRIT 5 RANGERS 2 SAGINAW, Mich. -- Justin Kea scored twice and Jake Paterson stopped 36 shots as the Spirit handed Kitchener its fourth loss in a row. Jeremiah Addison, Dylan Sadowy and Jimmy Lodge also scored for Saginaw (30-26-5) and Nick Moutrey had two assists. Mason Kohn and Curtis Meighan scored for the Rangers (22-36-3). Matthew Greenfield started in net for Kitchener and allowed four goals on 16 shots before being relieved by Jordan DeKort to start the third period. DeKort stopped 5-of-6 shots in relief. --- GENERALS 4 STEELHEADS 1 MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Ken Appleby made 27 saves and Oshawa produced all its offence in the first period en route to defeating the Steelheads. Josh Sterk, Jacob Busch, Joe Manchurek and Hunter Smith scored for the Generals (40-17-5). Mississauga (23-34-4) got its lone goal from Bobby MacIntyre. Chase Marchand allowed all four goals on 15 shots before Spencer Martin took over to start the second period. Martin made 19 saves in relief. --- WOLVES 6 STORM 5 SUDBURY, Ont. -- Trevor Carrick scored once and set up two more as the Wolves came from behind to defeat Guelph. Ray Huether, Nicholas Baptiste, Jacob Harris, Radek Faksa and Nathan Pancel also scored for Sudbury (31-2-10), which trailed 5-2 after 40 minutes of play. Robby Fabbri, Pius Suter and Zach Mitchell each had a goal and an assist for the Storm (47-11-3) while Brock McGinn and Marc Stevens added singles. Franky Palazzese made 36 saves for the Wolves. Guelphs Justin Nichols stopped 32-of-38 shots in defeat. ' ' '