Sometimes the true feelings come out on a hot mic.
MSG analyst and former Rangers captain Dave Maloney seemingly forgot he was on live television Sunday when he let out a “F–k” while reporter John Giannone spoke during the Blueshirts’ 2-1 home loss to the Red Wings.
“At that moment, the Rangers and about 18,000 officials in the stands…,” Giannone said.
Rangers announcer Dave Maloney (r) and Kenny Albert (l).
“F–k,” Maloney interjected, before Giannone continued: “…were screaming for a too many men penalty.”
Maloney’s reaction came during the third period at Madison Square Garden, while working alongside Alex Faust in place of Kenny Albert, who was in Madrid calling the Dolphins-Commanders game.
The Rangers could have used the man advantage since Detroit ultimately scored the game-winning goal with 3:47 remaining to drop the Blueshirts (10-8-2) to 1-7-1 at home.
His blunt NSFW remark followed an earlier rant against the officials.
The Rangers lost to the Red Wings on Sunday.
Maloney called out referee Kelly Sutherland in the second period for calling a holding penalty against the Rangers in a 1-1 game.
“Kelly Sutherland, who spends an inordinate amount of time explaining his calls on the ice, better explain this one, because this one is a joke!” Maloney said.
“Really? The stick is hooked around the right hip of (Rangers center Sam) Carrick. Stop explaining, make the right call!”
Maloney is in his first season as one of the main television announcers for the Rangers after previously serving as a radio announcer for the franchise since 2005.
He and Albert replaced Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti following their retirements.
Maloney played for the Rangers from 1974-85.
“It’s pretty exciting for me. It’s a role I never thought I’d be in,” Maloney told The Post earlier this year. “I’m following in some pretty big footsteps in JD [former analyst John Davidson] and Joe, but working with Kenny for so long, from that standpoint, this is just perfect.”
The Toronto Maple Leafs (9-9-2) entered Tuesday’s matchup versus the St. Louis Blues on a five-game losing skid and without Auston Matthews or Matthew Knies. Plagued by injuries and stumbling through the first quarter of the 2025-26 season, this squad needed something to celebrate, and it needed to do so in front of the home crowd. William Nylander and John Tavares mercifully obliged.
While many fans understandably focus on Matthews, these two core players can still propel the Leafs to victory on any given night. And they did so in rather improbable fashion against the Blues. Fending off multiple St. Louis players along the boards, Tavares kicked the puck loose to Morgan Rielly who found Nylander, who used nifty stick work to score the decisive goal near the end of the first and final overtime period. A relieved Scotiabank Arena basked in the much-needed 3-2 win.
Nylander has scored at least one point in 16 of the 17 games he has played in this season and ranks in the top-five in the NHL. While Matthews recovers from his lower-body injury, Toronto needs the 2014 first-round draft pick to consistently step up. He is embracing that responsibility, but the Maple Leafs are still languishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Craig Berube’s squad has considerable ground to make up after a disappointing start. When healthy, Toronto has the talent to climb the standings and solidify its regular spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but these are turbulent times. Although Mitch Marner was a polarizing presence during the postseason, the team sorely misses his production. The shorthanded Leafs must figure out how to overcome the challenges that lie in front of them and string together wins.
This triumph over St. Louis could be the momentum boost they urgently require. William Nylander, John Tavares and the rest of this group will try to ride his high when they welcome in the Columbus Blue Jackets (10-8-2) on Thursday.