Nobody in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization is happy after losing Game 3 and going down 2-1 in their opening round series against the New York Rangers.
General manager Jim Rutherford was especially upset and let his frustrations boil over at the expense of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Rob Rossi.
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After exiting a media elevator and while walking with other reporters to the Penguins’ dressing room, Rutherford addressed this columnist, a frequent critic since his hiring last June, in an obscenity-laced diatribe.
“Thanks for your support,” Rutherford said repeatedly.
“You’re a (expletive) jerk,” Rutherford said repeatedly.
Rutherford followed the jerk comment with a suggestion to “go sell ice cream now,” then a challenge to look him in the eye, which I did while explaining my role as Trib Total Media’s lead sports columnist.
My role is to provide opinion.
“Well, your opinion is (expletive),” Rutherford said.
The Penguins were one of the most injury plagued teams this season, struggled down the stretch and limped into the playoffs losing 11 of their last 15 regular season games.
Despite all the injuries — the Pens reportedly lost a total of 343 total man games this season — Rutherford has been criticized for a number of moves he pulled off prior to the trade deadline. The acquisitions of Daniel Winnik, Ben Lovejoy and Ian Cole haven’t paid off the way Rutherford and Pens fans would have liked them to.
Game 4 takes place Wednesday at CONSOL Energy Center where the Pens will look to even the series at two games apiece.
