Tale of the Tape: Coaches Clash, Ejected After Heated Exchange

Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).

Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!

Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).

Three different ways to sign up today. Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/InsideAHLHockeyPayPal: $3/month -> http://paypal.me/TonyAndrockVenmo: $3/month -> InsideAHLHockey

FULL DETAILS -> http://www.insideahlhockey.com/subscribe

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Things went a little sideways at the Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza on Saturday night after Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins forward Ville Koivunen scored a power play goal to extend the Penguins' lead to 7-2 over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Immediately following Koivunen's power play tally, which came with 3:30 left in the third period, Phantoms head coach Ian Laperriere made his way down the bench toward the plexi-glass that separates the two team benches and let it be known to Penguins' head coach Kirk MacDonald he didn't care for MacDonald's decision to put 'his first power play unit' on the ice in that situation.

The two coaches got into a heated exchange, shouting back and forth at one another before being ejected from the remainder of the contest.

According to sources on the event level, the two continued their shouting match in the hallway separating the two teams' locker rooms.

Shortly after the game, when walking on the event level down that hallway for post-game media availabilities InsideAHLHockey.com witnessed an increased presence of security guards stationed throughout the hallway as a deterrent to any further altercations taking place.

Laperriere walked out from his coaches room and laughed about the increased security presence after the game, saying he was 'too old for that stuff' while making himself available for an exclusive interview with InsideAHLHockey.com.

"He sends out his first power play unit. I went through the same thing last night. You know, we were up 7-1, same thing, 6-2, whatever," Laperriere told InsideAHLHockey.com in his post-game interview, referencing the Phantoms' 7-1 lead in the third period of last night's game against Toronto. "So I respect the game a little bit more than that. I don't send out the first unit, and he did, and I thought it was disrespectful and that's it."

Asked if Laperriere would return the favor down the road if the roles happen to be reversed in one of the six remaining matchups between the two teams, he responded saying, "I'm a big believer in respecting the game. When you you're up that many goals, you don't disrespect the other team. But I won't do that, It matter if it's against [them] or anybody else."

Penguins head coach Kirk MacDonald had a different point of view.

"We have two top power play units. So, I mean, we just put the guys that.... everybody else got kicked out of the game," MacDonald told InsideAHLHockey.com, referencing the fact that power play quarterbacks from both units defensemen Mac Hollowell and Filip Kral as well as forward Rutger McGroarty had been ejected earlier in the third period.

In all, the final 9:24 of the third period saw 108 minutes in penalties assessed by a busy officiating crew that included referees Jim Curtain and Bobby Jo Love.

"We've all been on the other side, the losing end of it. And you know, when you're losing, sometimes you just got to play better," MacDonald said, adding, "and we got pounded a couple times recently, you know, that's on us as a team to get better. And we tried to tonight, and we did. And, you know, people want to get upset, that's fine. Just smile and move along."

Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).

Three different ways to sign up today. Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!

Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/InsideAHLHockeyPayPal: $3/month -> http://paypal.me/TonyAndrockVenmo: $3/month -> InsideAHLHockey

FULL DETAILS -> http://www.insideahlhockey.com/subscribe