John Scott frustrated by penalties for incident with 'Princess Phaneuf'

Sabres enforcer John Scott racked up 14 minutes in penalties on one play and lamented it after the game by saying he can't hit 'Princess Phaneuf.'

By Brian Stubits

Nov 17, 2013 at 6:47 am ET • 1 min read

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman and captain Dion Phaneuf always seems to be a target. Sometimes it's from the Leafs' own fan base, other times it comes from other players (remember Scott Hartnell at the All-Star Game?).

On Saturday night he was the recipient of another shot from Buffalo Sabres enforcer John Scott who lamented his inability to hit a star player like "Princess Phaneuf."

Scott, who just returned this weekend from his suspension for a hit to the head of Loui Eriksson, already had an interesting history with the Leafs this season. His role in the preseason brawl that resulted in a 10-game suspension for David Clarkson was well chronicled; guys like Scott don't typically go after guys like Phil Kessel. Going after Phaneuf is a little bit different of a story, though.

The problem was, Scott didn't really think he did anything wrong and as you can see from the video above, Phaneuf didn't really think he did either. Phaneuf lost an edge and tumbled under Scott and the next thing you know there's a fracas at the next dead puck when Phaneuf cross-checked Cody McCormick.

What had Scott so upset and led to the mini rant after the game was the fact that he was given 14 minutes in penalties on this play alone; four minutes for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct.

Scott did calm down a bit in his later media sessions, telling Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald that he understood what the refs were thinking but he's getting tired of reputation calls.

Did the referee say anything to Scott?

"No, I didn't think I did anything wrong," he said. "I went for a hit, Phaneuf bailed. I get dragged down from behind and get 14 minutes. So I think there was more of a precaution. They didn't want anything to boil over."

Scott said reputation calls are "getting a little old."

"But I understand it," he said. "I definitely have a reputation that comes with me. Obviously, this year isn't helping. What are you going to do? I'm just going to keep doing my thing."

In other words, it was just another night in the Sabres-Leafs rivalry, 2013-14 edition.