Panthers scored game-winning goal on a two-man advantage created by bench minor
Panthers scored game-winning goal on a two-man advantage created by bench minor
The National Hockey League handed out a severe fine to Buffalo Sabres head coach Don Granato for “unprofessional conduct directed at the officials that resulted in a bench minor” in the 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. The Sabres battled with the notoriously rambunctious Panthers throughout the game but appeared to be getting the short end of the stick from referees Michael Markovic and TJ Luxmore.
In the second period, winger Jordan Greenway was assessed a double-minor for roughing in an incident where Panthers winger Nick Cousins appeared to be playing possum after being punched by the Sabres forward.
In the third, Buffalo rookie Zach Benson was called for tripping Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola. Granato lost his cool at the officials and was called for a bench minor. Former Sabre Brandon Montour scored the eventual game-winner on the two-man advantage.
“What I watched transpiring in that game, from one minute before the incident giving Greenway a double-minor, Cousins goes into Greenway, the whistle blows, initiates (the confrontation) by going to shoulder into Greenway's chest, then has his hands up and protects himself, goes down and Greenway gets four out of it,” Granato said. “(Peyton) Krebs was taking punches.to the head, with no call whatsoever, with a linesman in between and he's still taking punches to the head and a second guy comes in and pulls his helmet off. At some point, you’ve got to stand up for your team. You're put in that position as a coach. It's a tough position to be in, but you can't sit and watch.”
The Sabres finish off their two-game swing through the Sunshine State in Tampa on Thursday before returning home to play Vegas on Saturday.
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