Atlantic Division Report

Around the Atlantic Division

1. New Jersey Devils (33-14-1-67pts)

2. Pittsburgh Penguins (31-20-1-63 pts)

3. New York Rangers (24-20-7-55 pts)

4. New York Islanders (23-20-8-54 pts)

5. Philadelphia Flyers (25-21-3-53 pts)

The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New York Rangers 2-0 Thursday night and Rangers head coach John Tortorella was furious after the game as Daniel Carcillo fought Rangers star winger Marian Gaborik.

“There’s no honor in that,” Tortorella said. “I don’t play the game, I don’t wear the uniform, I don’t want to say too much about it, but there’s simply no honor in that.”

Carcillo has no honor in going after Gaborik but Tortorella should be furious at Gaborik’s teammates like Dan Girardi who just watched their star player get pummeled.

Meanwhile, Tortorella and New York Post writer Larry Brooks got into it once again. The confrontation started when Larry Brooks asked “Should one of your guys have taken a third man out?”

Here’s what went down

Brooks: Should one of your guys have taken a third man out?

Tortorella: I’m not going to answer any questions from you.

Brooks: You’re not?

Tortorella: No.

Brooks: Oh, good. I’ll speculate.

Tortorella: You’ll speculate? Be as sarcastic as you can be, as you usually are.

Brooks: I will, I will.

Tortorella: Go right ahead.

Brooks: So should one of your guys have taken a third man out?

Tortorella: I said I’m not answering any of your questions. Have you ever fought before?

Brooks: Yes. Why, are you challenging me now?

Tortorella: No, no, I’m not challenging you. You know, [Wade] Redden sticks up for his teammates the other night and you come out with some sarcastic article.

Brooks: It was funny.

Tortorella: It was funny? You were probably beat up on the bus stop most of the time.

Brooks: You’re a great representative of the city.

Tortorella: Just go stand somewhere else.

The Flyers are 12-10-2 since Peter Laviolette replaced John Stevens as coach but are 10-3-1 in their last 14 games and are a team that is on the rise.

However, despite earning a point in 11 of 14 games, Philadelphia would be out of the playoffs if they started today.

The Flyers finish the week with weekend games against Carolina and Pittsburgh.

The New York Islanders rebounded from a 6-4 loss Tuesday night to Pittsburgh, with a 2-1 shootout win against Florida Thursday night.

The surging Islanders (23-20-8) have won seven of their last nine overall and are 10-3-1 in their last 14. Of late, the Islanders have unbeatable at home, winning 6 straight at home.

What to watch for leading up to the trade deadline is whether the Islanders become a player a the deadline. Islanders GM Garth Snow has the assets to upgrade his roster but it’s believed he won’t mortgage the future for a quick fix.

What could derail the Devils chances this year could an overworked Martin Brodeur. Brodeur has appeared in 46 games this season and is set to lead to Team Canada in February. However, the Devils are not concerned.

Brodeur made 22 saves to record the 2-0 shutout of the visiting Florida Panthers Wednesday night. It was Brodeur’s 108th shutout of his NHL career as the netminder is 30-14-1 on the season.