Friday, March 18, 2011

Barry Trotz and Terry Murray: Two Coaches, Two Fan Experiences

Barry Trotz's Nashville Predators had a thrilling, come from behind 4-3 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins last night at the Bridgestone Arena.

In the post game, interview Trotz was thankful for the fans support especially for the standing ovation with 5:08 left in the game when the crowd of 16,839 responded to the Predators' effort with a huge TV time-out ovation that was as loud as it has been for a regular season game.

"You talk about inspiring, the crowd was fantastic tonight especially in the third when we were running on fumes and getting a little discouraged. We're going to need them Saturday night and then right to the bitter end."

On the west coast, a couple of hours later, the 18,118 fans at the Staples Center booed loudly as the Kings left the ice at the end of the second period with he Kings down 2-0 to the St. Louis Blues.

Kings Coach Terry Murray was furious after the game in his post game interview.

"You know what the most disappointing, frustrating thing was? At the end of the second period, we were booed off the ice by our fans. That is the most embarrassing thing I have ever been through. That's the worst I've ever been through, in all the years I've been coaching. I've been behind the bench almost 3,000 hockey games in the NHL, and booed off the ice by your own fans at the end of the second period, here after this road trip, going 4-0 in hard places, very disappointing.''

Granted the team was being out shot 30-6 for two periods but they had just completed a 4-0 road trip over quality teams including the Predators in Nashville on Tuesday.

It's rare for coaches to talk negatively about their team's fans and this was quite a contrast to what Trotz had experienced earlier in the evening.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass

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