NHL fines Tortorella $10,000 for tirade

By EDUARDO A. ENCINA, Times Staff Writer
Published November 22, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Dirk Shadd | Times] The NHL fined Tortorella $10,000 for his disparaging comments after his team was called for three penalties late, most notably a hold on Brad Richards that preceded Atlanta's winning goal.

TAMPA - When John Tortorella boiled over after Monday night's 4-3 overtime loss to Atlanta by ripping into league officiating, the Lightning coach seemingly knew it would come at a cost.

It did. The league fined Tortorella $10,000 for his disparaging comments after his team was called for three penalties late, most notably a hold on Brad Richards that preceded Atlanta's winning goal.

The ruling was handed down Wednesday afternoon after a day of deliberation by league disciplinarian Colin Campbell. He cited Bylaw 17, which prohibits comments critical of officiating.

Tortorella declined to comment Wednesday.

"The frustrating part for me is these organizations pay the players millions upon millions of dollars," Tortorella said after Monday's game. "They're the ones who need to decide outcomes of games. Listen, I'm trying to stay away from criticizing as far as the calls, but expletive that. I just don't get it.

"And it makes the coaching job that much harder; how you coach your players in playing when you get that (expletive) out there."

League spokesman Gary Meagher said Campbell's office warned Tortorella last season about disparaging officials.

"The fact that Mr. Tortorella had been previously warned in April for conduct in regards to Bylaw 17 obviously played a factor in (Campbell's) decision to fine him $10,000," he said.

The Lightning wouldn't comment on whether it would pay Tortorella's fine.

DARCHE, JANCEVSKI PLAY: The Lightning recalled forward Mathieu Darche and defenseman Dan Jancevski from Norfolk of the AHL and plugged them into the lineup against the Rangers.

Darche, sent down Nov. 13, had three goals and seven assists in four goals, earning player of the week honors. He started Wednesday in place of Jason Ward, who was a healthy scratch.

"Going down there definitely helps your confidence a little bit," Darche said. "When you're up and you go down and have some success, it helps when you come back."

Jancevski, who recorded four assists in 17 games with the Admirals, replaced Paul Ranger, who missed Wednesday's game with a sore shoulder and is day to day.

ODDS AND ENDS: Vinny Lecavalier's and Marty St. Louis' eight-game point streaks ended. ... The Lightning canceled a practice scheduled for today. It will hold a Thanksgiving team dinner at its hotel in Raleigh, N.C., a day before facing the Hurricanes.

Eduardo A. Encina can be reached at eencina@tampabay.com.

[Last modified November 22, 2007, 00:21:40]