Islanders' Konopka shoots back at Lemieux - 02-14-11

When Mario Lemieux called things "embarrassing," this is probably what he had in mind.

Islanders forward Zenon Konopka, who had a significant role in Friday's fight-filled game with the Penguins, took a shot at the Penguins owner who ripped the NHL yesterday over how the league handled discipline in Friday's game. Said Konopka:

"As soon as I get home, I'm going to take the poster off my bedroom door of Mario. I can't believe he (Lemieux) is that far removed from the game that he doesn't realize...in the heat of the moment what happens."

EN Says: There was nothing "heat of the moment" in what the Islanders or Konopka did in that game. After the Feb. 2 game between the two teams, Konopka said, "We're not happy. We're not happy with the outcome of the game. We have to remember this  for 12 days from now."

(Note: The re-match Feb. 11 was nine days later.)

And prior to the game, the Islanders recalled Micheal Haley, a career-minor leaguer with 196 penalty minutes in 65 games this season. He wasn't there for his ability to puck handle or kill penalties or anything actually related in regards to winning the game.

For Konopka, who leads the NHL in penalty minutes this season, to luff off his team's actions as "heat of the moment" is a joke. Especially when he himself hinted something could happen in a re-match.

The Islanders turned Friday's game in Wrestlemania 25. And Konopka's shot back at Lemieux is almost like credible as an interview you would see on WWE's Raw.