from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

This was as much a statement from Alain Vigneault, the coach with the reputation as a peacenik, as it was from the Rangers and Dylan McIlrath.

For while credit is due McIlrath for taking on Wayne Simmonds just 39 seconds into Sunday’s match at the Garden, nine days after the Flyers’ winger concussed Ryan McDonagh with the gloved sucker punch that left the Blueshirts steaming, the rookie would not have had the opportunity if Vigneault hadn’t sent him out for the straight-up match on a draw 26 seconds in.

“Oh, no, I didn’t have to look back [at Vigneault],” McIlrath said after the Rangers’ commanding 3-1 victory that vaulted his team into fifth-overall in the NHL. “I knew I was going to go.”

continued

Watch the fight below...