Dustin Byfuglien avoids discipline, channels Marshawn Lynch with media (Video)
Dustin Byfuglien won’t be fined or suspended for his late punch on Corey Perry after the Anaheim Ducks forward scored a goal in Monday night’s Game 3, according to USA Today.
Enough time had elapsed between the puck going into the net and Byfuglien’s punch on Perry that it wasn’t a case of being the Winnipeg Jets defenseman mistiming things:
Byfuglien was given two minutes for roughing and the Ducks ended up winning 5-4 in overtime and grabbing a 3-0 series lead with Game 4 Wednesday night back at MTS Centre.
On Tuesday, Byfuglien met with the media and didn’t have much to say. In fact, he only had one thing to say, really.
"As long as we stick together as a team, we'll be all right."
Ah, the Marshawn Lynch school of media relations.
During his session with the media, Jets head coach Paul Maurice defended Byfuglien's response:
"I absolutely love the guy. I've moved him up front, back. He's scored an overtime winner against Minnesota. He keeps that room light and he's not perfect. He makes mistakes on the ice, I deal with them, we talk. He came out and has the right to say what he wants to you and I'm jealous. I'm going to be honest with you. I'd love to be able to come up and have one of those days.
"I get about five answers in my head to every question that's asked and they just pop up, and one of them is so profane and inappropriate my parents would disown me even at my age ... I'm glad he came out and did what he did. It's not perfect and sometimes things aren't right, but that's Dustin. We love him."
Maurice is right. Yeah, we'd love to get answers from Byfuglien on just what was going through his mind when he punched Perry after that goal, but with Winnipeg a loss away from elimination after an emotional defeat, it's probably best for his wallet he keep quiet, at least for now.
At this rate, this whole thing will stay on the Lynch path and Byfuglien's "As long as we stick together as a team, we'll be all right" response will be prominently featured on the backs of the Jets' 2015-16 players shirts during training camp.
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