TAMPA - Two days before his franchise's biggest Game 7 since 1994 and the second-largest Game 7 of Vigneault's decorated NHL career, Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault was sharp and unrelenting when others might have relaxed the reins or breathed in the satisfaction of winning Game 6.
He was in a surprisingly unenthusiastic mood Tuesday night despite his team's 7-3 thrashing of the Lightning to stave off elimination. Then on Wednesday morning at the team's Tampa hotel, Vigneault couldn't hide his irritation over varying issues.
There was his unsatisfied reflection on Lightning captain Steven Stamkos' boarding of Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh in Game 6, which Vigneault referred to as "the non-call.