The NHL is investigating some Phoenix Coyotes players for their criticism of the officiating after their Game 5 elimination loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
"NHL is still deciding on discipline, if any, should (be) handed out for actions and words of 4 Coyotes after loss. (Martin) Hanzal, (Keith) Yandle, (Mike) Smith, (Shane) Doan," tweeted Sportsnet's John Shannon on Thursday.
Colin Campbell, the NHL's senior executive vice-president of hockey operations, told the National Post on Friday that he doesn't know when his investigation will be complete because contacting players for interviews once their season ends can be challenging. No interviews have taken place yet.
Campbell did not rule out the possibility of fining (the maximum allowable is $2,500) or suspending players for games next season.
Doan, Smith and Yandle all vented their frustration to the media after losing the Western Conference final in overtime. Kings captain Dustin Brown hit Coyotes defenceman Michal Rozsival with a questionable knee-on-knee just 12 seconds before Kings forward Dustin Penner scored the winning goal. Rozsival left the game; Brown went unpenalized. (Coyotes general manager Don Maloney later said Rozsival's knee is not structurally damaged but badly bruised.)
After the game, Hanzal acted aggressively toward the referees. Doan and Hanzal exchanged words with Brown during the post-series handshake line. Goaltender Smith invoked teammate Raffi Torres' 25-game suspension and said that Brown "should be done forever." Defenceman Yandle said that the referees were playing for the Kings.
"Their actions were unprofessional and unacceptable," Campbell told ESPN.com.
Doan expressed regret on Thursday that he was not more gracious in defeat, but Smith did not retract his feelings.
"I don't regret anything I said. It needed to be addressed," Smith told reporters during the Coyotes final media availability. "I've been honest all season long, and I'm not going to change because a game put us out."
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99
Babe Of The Month
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99/babeofthemonthman.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment