Rangers Fans All Over Canucks' Burrows For Hit On McDonagh

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. At least that's how Rangers fans apparently feel about Alexandre Burrows.

According to one Vancouver media member, the Canucks forward's Twitter account has been under siege since he leveled Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh on Tuesday night with an elbow that earned him a five-minute major and a game misconduct, but no further disciplinary action from the NHL.

Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun tweeted late Wednesday night that Rangers fans have no intention of forgetting about the check that left their star defenseman day-to-day with what is believed to be a banged-up shoulder.

McDonagh, who is having the best season of his four-year career and has been mentioned as a possible finalist for the Norris Trophy, was leveled from behind up against the glass by Burrows during the final minute of the Rangers' 3-1 victory.

When asked during the Canucks' postgame show if he thought it was a dirty hit, Burrows said, "I didn't think so, I don't know. I haven't seen the replay. It didn't feel like it. I was coming from the middle and I think he was looking at the other side and I was  trying to cut him off and get the puck but I don't know what really happened."

"Tonight I am just trying to get on the forecheck and get the puck back. My intention wasn't to be dirty or hurt the guy I just wanted to forecheck and retrieve the puck," Burrows added.

McDonagh traveled with the team to Colorado, where the Rangers play Thursday night. The team had been mostly mum on his status, before head coach Alain Vigneault broke the silence following the morning skate.

"He's day-to-day, and I don't think it's going to be very long," Vigneault told reporters. "Injuries are just part of the game. Obviously, his 25-plus minutes a game are big minutes against big lines and on the power play and penalty killing, so we're going to try and spread those minutes around, and I'm confident our group will be able to get the job done."

John Moore, who has missed the last six games due to his own injury problems, will take McDonagh's place Thursday night, Vigneault said.

The Rangers need three points in their remaining five games to clinch a spot in the postseason.

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