Despite apologizing for his remarks about NHL officials who refereed the 2012 Winter Classic Wednesday, New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella was fined $30,000 Thursday for his fiery comments, which came Monday night after the Rangers 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers at Citizen Bank Park.
"There is no acceptable explanation or excuse for commentary challenging the integrity of the League, its officials or its broadcast partners," said Colin Campbell, the NHL vice president of hockey operations. "People can disagree with calls by officials on the ice, but even in instances of the utmost frustration there is no justification for speaking as inappropriately and irresponsibly as Mr. Tortorella did."
On Monday, Tortorella suggested that NBC, which broadcasted the game, was involved in a plan to make sure the one-goal game reached overtime. Flyers forward Danny Briere was awarded a penalty shot with 19.6 second remaining after the referees said that a Rangers player had closed his hand over the puck while it was in New York's goalie circle. The violation results in a penalty shot, which Ranger's goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, stopped.