NEW YORK, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Vancouver Canucks Coach John Tortorella and Calgary Flames counterpart Bob Hartley were each disciplined Monday for their roles in a brawl between the teams.
Tortorella was suspended for 15 days and Hartley was fined $25,000 in the wake of Saturday's game, which degenerated into a fight-filled melee just 2 seconds into the contest.
NHL Senior Executive Vice President Colin Campbell said in a statement Hartley was sanctioned for sending enforcer Kevin Westgarth out to take the opening face-off with the intention of instigating "a premeditated fight with an unwilling opponent -- the Canucks' Kevin Bieksa."
Tortorella, meanwhile, was sanctioned for his actions during the first intermission when he attempted to force his way into the Calgary locker room, triggering a hallway scrum that was broadcast live by Canadian Broadcasting Corp. cameras.
"Mr. Tortorella's actions in attempting to enter the Calgary Flames locker room after the first period were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the league," Campbell said.
"Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game."
A total of 204 penalty minutes were handed out during the game, which the Canucks won 3-2 in a shootout.
