May 1, 2002 2 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – The NHL fined two coaches, two general managers and the Detroit Red Wings a total of $125,000 Tuesday for separate actions during the first round of the playoffs. Vancouver general manager Brian Burke, New York Islanders general manager Mike Milbury and Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien were fined $30,000 each for inappropriate comments to the media.

Detroit coach Scotty Bowman was fined $10,000 for shoving Detroit Free Press reporter Nick Cotsonika during the Red Wings’ series against Vancouver.

“We have determined there was inappropriate physical contact between Mr. Bowman and a member of the media,” Bill Daly, NHL executive vice president and chief legal officer said, “and we maintain that any such inappropriate contact – however inconsequential in its appearance – is entirely unacceptable.”

The Red Wings were also fined $25,000 for violating NHL media regulations.

“We hold league and club representatives to the highest standard of comportment,” Daly said. “What may be considered acceptable conduct outside the context of our league may very well be deemed unacceptable conduct in the environment in which league and club personnel regularly interact with the media and the public.”

All of the money will go to the NHL Foundation, which funds charitable causes and youth hockey initiatives.

Burke and Milbury both were sanctioned for criticizing the officiating in their respective series.

Therrien threatened revenge following a hit by Boston’s Kyle McLaren on Richard Zednik that sent the Montreal forward to the hospital and knocked him out of at least the first-round series.

Therrien said after Game 4 that his team would target Boston’s best players in Game 5. But he backed off the threats the following day by saying the best revenge was to win the game.

The No. 8-seeded Canadiens won Games 5 and 6 to knock the top-seeded Bruins out of the playoffs.