The NHL on Thursday fined Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato $25,000 for “unprofessional conduct directed at the officials” late in Tuesday’s 3-2 road loss to the Florida Panthers.
At the 9:01 mark of the third period, when rookie winger Zach Benson went off for tripping, officials called an unsportsmanlike conduct bench penalty on the Sabres, putting them down two men.
Apparently, Benson’s penalty was the final straw for Granato.
“At some point, you got to stand up for your team,” Granato told reporters in Florida following the game. “You’re put in that position as a coach. It’s a tough position to be in, but you can’t sit and watch.”
Brandon Montour scored 40 seconds later, giving the Panthers a 3-1 lead.
Following the game, Granato explained the calls that led to his outburst.
In the second period, he said Florida’s Nick Cousins initiated contact on winger Jordan Greenway. When Greenway put his hands up to protect himself, Cousins went down. Greenway received a double minor for roughing.
Granato also said at one point, center Peyton Krebs was being punched but the Panthers weren’t penalized.
On Benson’s call, he said the youngster was pushed down.
“You lose and you lose the way it happened is extremely disappointing, and I’m not talking about our players,” Granato said. “What transpired there is disappointing.”
Granato’s fine is given to the NHL Foundation.
Kudos to Don Granato!!! The officiating keeps getting worse as time goes by. What are these guys looking at? Of course things will be missed but so many obvious things that are front and center? Maybe if more coaches spoke up things would improve…..