Capitals coach Adam Oates is not pleased with Rangers coach John Tortorella. (AP)

Capitals coach Adam Oates was not known as a fighter during his 20-year NHL career (which included six seasons in Boston), but he said he’s confident he could beat up Rangers coach John Tortorella.

“Yes,” Oates said Thursday. “Easily.”

Oates’ comment came during an appearance on Washington’s 106.7 The Fan, when he was talking about the controversy that surrounded his team’s seven-game first-round series loss to Tortorella’s Rangers.

The Capitals were unhappy with the officiating after the Rangers rallied with wins in Games 6 and 7. Caps star Alex Ovechkin implied there was an order from up high to benefit the Rangers, and general manager George McPhee backed him up, saying: “I don’t think there’s a league conspiracy, but it sure didn’t feel right. Alex wasn’t wrong.”

Tortorella was dismissive of the comments.

“We’ve got everybody and their brother whining out there in Washington about what happened in that series,” Tortella said Wednesday. “And I think that’s a big reason they lose that series.”

Oates had his chance to publicly respond to Tortorella on Thursday, as the Rangers were preparing to meet the Bruins in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“Well, I think he’s out of line,” Oates said. “[Tortorella] should be worried about his own series. We didn’t whine once during the series. I never complained. I don’t know, did you guys ever hear me complain about officiating?”

Added Oates: “Ovi [complained] after Game 7. No one complained before any game. I met with the supervisor before Game 7. You meet with the supervisor before every single game. We never complained about anything.”

Welcome to Friday’s Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.

FRIDAY’S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:
MLB: Red Sox at Twins, 8:10 p.m. (NESN; WEEI-FM)
MLB: Mets at Cubs, 2:10 p.m. (WGN)
MLB: Dodgers at Braves, 7:30 p.m. (MLB Network)
NHL playoffs: Senators at Penguins, 7:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
NBA playoffs: Knicks at Pacers, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
NBA: Scouting combine, 10 a.m. (ESPNU)

AROUND THE WEB:

Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte leaves Thursday's game with a back injury. (AP)

♦ The Yankees, who have managed to overcome a rash of injuries and grab first place in the American League East, continued their march to the trainer’s room Thursday, as veteran pitcher Andy Pettitte left a 3-2 loss to the Mariners in the fifth inning with a tight left trapezius muscle in his back.

“It was affecting his velocity, and that’s why I took him out. It’s muscular, but I don’t know what that means moving forward,” manager Joe Girardi said. “He works through a lot, that’s the bottom line. But when I saw the arm speed …”

Pettitte, 40, missed a start earlier in the season with another back issue, but he’s not sure if this is related.

“I couldn’t get extension at all,” Pettitte said. “I felt like I was cutting almost everything off. It’s trying to throw it in there almost slower than slow, to tell you the truth.”

Added Pettitte: “There’s no doubt I’m getting old, but I don’t want to sit here and say that’s the exact reason for this. I feel good, and you’d think that at the intense level I had to compete last year [beginning spring training late in his comeback season], that’s when I would have broken down.”

Catcher Chris Stewart also departed Thursday’s game early, leaving for an MRI on his left groin after pulling up while running the bases in the seventh inning.

“You’ve got to move forward. That’s the bottom line,” Girardi said. “Injuries are a part of the game, and some years you’re going to have more than others. Right now we have more than a few. … It’s no excuse. You have to find a way to get it done.”

♦ Sacramento appears set to remain an NBA city, as the Maloof family reportedly agreed to sell a 65 percent share of the Kings to a local group headed by software tycoon Vivek Ranadive. The NBA, which has pushed for the team to remain in Sacramento despite the Maloofs efforts to sell to a group that wanted to move the franchise to Seattle, is expected to approve the deal next week.

“It’s the start of a new era,” Ranadive said.

The plan includes a new $447 million downtown arena that already has been approved by the Sacramento City Council, after urging from Mayor Kevin Johnson.

♦ Former NASCAR driver Dick Trickle died Thursday in North Carolina, apparently from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 71.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said Trickle called and said “there would be a dead body and it would be his.” His body was found near his pickup truck at a cemetery in Boger City, N.C., about 40 miles northwest of Charlotte.

Trickle was the Winston Cup Rookie of the Year in 1989 at age 48 and competed in more than 300 Cup races.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Dick Trickle on his passing today,” NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France said. “Dick was a legend in the short-track racing community, particularly in his home state of Wisconsin, and he was a true fan favorite. Personalities like Dick Trickle helped shape our sport. He will be missed.”

ON THIS DAY TRIVIA (answer below): On May 17, 1971, the Red Sox signed which pitcher who was released by the Twins in March and then signed and released by the Braves?

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I thought it was pretty even going into the overtime. But we got spanked in the overtime.” – Rangers coach John Tortorella, after the Bruins’ 3-2 win in Game 1

STAT OF THE DAY: 1-12 – The Red Sox’ record in games in which they were trailing after the eighth inning, with the first win coming Thursday night vs. the Rays

‘NET RESULTS (mobile users, check the website to see the videos): Kings center Anze Kopitar takes a puck to the face during LA’s 3-2 victory over the Sharks in Game 2 of their series.

Saints cornerback Dion Turner falls through a portable outfield fence after making a catch in a charity softball game.

Here’s an impressive golf shot — inside an office building.

TRIVIA ANSWER: Luis Tiant

SOOTHING SOUNDS: The late Pervis Jackson, original bass singer for the Spinners, was born on this day in 1938.