Phaneuf on lack of postgame salute: 'It was no attack on fans'
Toronto Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf said Friday the players' decision to forgo their customary salute at center ice Thursday night was not intended as an affront to Leafs Nation.
"It was no attack on fans," the defenseman told reporters after practice. "It was about changing our routine."
The Leafs skated off the ice rather than gathering and raising their sticks at center ice Thursday night after a 5-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"All I want our fans to know is that we want to win games for them," Phaneuf said, adding that the stick salute won't be making a return anytime soon.
Phaneuf. "It's something we are going to stick with"
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) November 21, 2014
Stick with? We see what he did there.
If you're interested in listening to Phaneuf's comments in full, here's the audio, courtesy David Alter of the team's official website: