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Alain Vigneault wonders who you'd prefer as a son: Henrik Lundqvist or Brad Marchand?

AP Photo/Craig Ruttle
AP Photo/Craig Ruttle

Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins was called for goaltender interference during Friday’s matinee against the New York Rangers when he collided with Henrik Lundqvist.

Bruins head coach Claude Julien, dubious that it was the correct call, had some advice for the Rangers netminder after the game.

"I know he does some acting on the side, but it doesn't need to be on the ice,” he said, via WEEI’s DJ Bean.

In response, Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault defended his netminder Saturday morning with one simple question.

Via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News:

The comments on Hank were very inappropriate. The way Hank conducts himself, on the ice, away from the rink, off the ice, the example that he sets. Who would you rather have as a son, Henrik (Lundqvist) or Brad Marchand? For him to say things like that about Hank, totally wrong, and probably Claude is getting a little older and needs to check his eyesight.”

Of course, this could all just be some playful joshing that’s continued between the two. You see, Vigneault and Julien are old friends, after all; they played together for the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the Central Hockey League in 1981 and retained that relationship as both transitioned to become professional hockey coaches.

In 2012, the two engaged in words through the press with Marchand the topic as the then-Vancouver Canucks head coach warned that someday the Bruins uber pest is “going to get it” after his low-bridge hit on Sami Salo. Julien called the comments hypocritical, citing the Canucks having similar type players. “It’s unfortunate. I guess we're stupid, we're idiots, they're the smartest team in the league.”

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Friday’s 4-3 Bruins win was a contentious one. Aside from the head coaches spouting off at one another over goaltender interference, the Rangers lost Derek Stepan indefinitely to broken ribs after a Matt Beleskey hit. The Bruins forward won’t be disciplined and you can bet he’ll have a target on his back when the Bruins visit the Rangers on Jan. 11.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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