After the New York Islanders beat the Boston Bruins at home on Monday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round, Boston coach Bruce Cassidy had some harsh criticism for the NHL’s officiating crew.
And in Wednesday’s Game 6, Islanders fans trolled Cassidy and hilariously threw his words right back at the Bruins — even if it was at their own team’s expense.
“I think they sell a narrative over there that it’s more like the New York Saints, not the New York Islanders,” Cassidy said in part after Game 5 when the Islanders capitalized on three-of-four power plays in the 5-4 win. “They play hard and they play the right way, but I feel we’re the same way, and the exact calls that get called on us do not get called on them and I don’t know why.”
When the series returned to New York for Game 6, Isles fans totally embraced the opportunity to play up their team’s new nickname.
The Islanders caught two first-period penalties: First two minutes to winger Anthony Beauvillier for tripping defenseman Charlie McAvoy and another shortly after to center Casey Cizikas for tripping winger Taylor Hall to give the Bruins a two-man advantage for a few seconds.
After the second penalty, the Nassau Coliseum erupted chanting, “New York Saints! New York Saints!”
The Nassau Coliseum crowd started chanting "New York Saints" after the @NYIslanders took back-to-back penalties. 😂 #ItsOn pic.twitter.com/0zYjSpIelk
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 10, 2021
A New York Saints chant just broke out after Cizikas was called for tripping pic.twitter.com/JOpowLNPUW
— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) June 10, 2021
This was some brilliant and extremely petty trolling after back-to-back penalties proved Cassidy’s original point not quite accurate. And hockey Twitter loved it.