Artem Anisimov Gun Taunt: Rangers Player Causes Brawl After Miming Shooting A Gun (VIDEO)

Despite playing for the New York Rangers, center Artem Anisimov must not be a Jets fan. After all, if he'd been watching one of the city's hometown football teams this season then he'd likely have figured out that celebrations involving the pretend use of firearms aren't particularly well received.

In the middle of the second period of the Rangers' game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night, Anisimov put away a beautiful one-timer goal to give the blueshirts a 2-1 lead. To celebrate, he got on one knee and mimicked shooting a firearm -- perhaps a shotgun, based on the pump action -- at the net.

This mock gunshot in the direction of goalie Mathieu Garon did not sit too well with Lightning players. Tampa Bay captain Vincent LeCavlier immediately rushed at Anisimov after he made the gesture and was eventually joined by several other players. Many participants in the ensuing fracas were penalized, with Anisimov and Steve Downie of the Lightning receiving 10-minute misconducts.

The play drew comparisons, for obvious reasons, to Teemu Selanne's "machine gun" celebration from years ago.

The game remained close throughout, with the Lightning ultimately coming out on top by winning a shootout, taking the game by a final score of 3-2. After the game, Rangers coach John Tortorella spoke to the media about Anisimov's celebration:

"You guys all know, he's a great kid. I don't think he realized what would happen in that type of situation. And I don't think that's planned by him, to go that far. I don't blame Tampa at all. I would expect our team to do the same thing. It's a lesson learned pretty quickly."

WATCH VIDEO AT TOP