NHL fines Ference for gesture

NEW YORK, April 22 (UPI) -- Boston defensemen Andrew Ference has been fined $2,500 for a gesture he made after scoring a goal against Montreal.

Ference appeared to raise his middle finger to the crowd in Montreal after he scored a goal Thursday in the Bruins' 5-4 overtime win over the Canadiens.

But Ference told The Boston Globe he was pumping his fist and any other gesture was "unintentional."

However, after reviewing the incident NHL Senior Vice President of Operations Mike Murphy slapped Ference with a $2,500 fine. The money goes into the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The best-of-seven conference quarterfinal playoff series between Boston and Montreal is tied 2-2 heading into Game 5 Saturday in Boston.