New York Rangers GM Glen Sather Battles NHL For Coach John Tortorella

The New York Rangers have called on the NHL to impose sanctions on the Washington Capitals for what they believe was a lack of adequate security behind their team's bench on Friday night, according to CBCSports.ca.

In an open letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Sather accused fans behind the Ranger bench of being abusive and out-of-control, arena personnel did nothing to protect his team, and the Capitals should face league sanctions, according to Damien Cox, writing in the Toronto Star.

Rangers' coach John Tortorella was suspended for one game by the NHL after throwing a water bottle at a heckling fan. The water bottle hit someone else.
In a letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, released Sunday by the team, the Rangers made a number of claims in relation to the incident:

    •    The Rangers made repeated requests of security in the vicinity of the bench to intervene with fans they believed were getting carried away but nothing was done.

    •    The looseness of the glass panels behind the New York bench made it possible for fans using obscene language to scream at the coach and players.

    •    One foul-mouthed fan asked whether Rangers' players Dan Girardi and Marc Staal had a sexual relationship — all within easy earshot of young fans.

    •    Trainer Jim Ramsay and other bench personnel were spit on by fans.

Sather claimed the Washington arena staff's failure to respond to requests for intervention "contributed significantly to this unfortunate incident."

The Rangers asked Bettman to impose "appropriate discipline" on Washington and ensure that proper security is in place for a possible Game 7 on Tuesday.

NHL spokesman Frank Brown told the New York Times the league would "implement increased security measures" for both Sunday's Game 6 and Tuesday's Game 7, if it is played, according to CBC Sports.