Lucic: No Apology For Behavior In Handshake Line
BOSTON (CBS) -- Milan Lucic is not denying that he said something he probably shouldn't have while shaking hands with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
But the Bruins forward isn't going to apologize for it.
Following Boston's Game 7 loss to their biggest rivals, Lucic reportedly threatened Montreal forward Dale Weiss as the two sides were shaking hands after a hard-fought series.
Weiss then called Lucic classless and disrespectful to reporters, and Lucic fired back by calling Weiss a baby.
As the Bruins cleaned out their lockers on Friday, Lucic said it's unfortunate the situation is being blown out of proportion.
"It's unfortunate, especially because a lot of what is said on the ice stays on the ice. Unfortunately that code was broken and it's unfortunate that it's blown up to what it is now," Lucic told reporters. "I'm not the first guy to do it and I won't be the last guy to do it.
"I'm not sorry that I did it," he continued. "I'm a guy who plays on emotion. This is a game of emotions and sometimes you make decisions out of emotions that might not be the best one. That's what it is."
Lucic went on to say that he is an emotional player on the ice, and it's those emotions that have gotten him to where he is today.
"I didn't make the NHL because I accepted losing or accepted failure," he said. "I can't take back what I said. I'm not apologizing for what was said in the handshake, and it's just unfortunate that what was said on the ice gets leaked out and blown out of proportion."
Lucic is often criticized by opponents for his tough and physical style of play, and said this is just another example of that.
"Somebody always has something to say at the end of the day. I've built a reputation for myself over the last seven years. For the way that I play I've kept it clean except for a couple times," he said. "I'm not worried about people trying to tarnish my image or things like that. I still have to be the person that I am, and I care about the people that I'm accountable to; my teammates, coaches, family and fans. If I have their respect and the right image from them, then like I said, I'm not worried about my image being tarnished."
What upsets Lucic most about the situation is that something that was said on the ice has been made public.
"What I believe in is what is said on the ice stays on the ice," he said. "I'll only comment on myself when it comes to stuff like that. I don't come running to anyone about anything; I deal with my problems myself. That's the way I go about my business. I don't think much of the guys that feel the need to go and do something like that."
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