NHL does not respect freedom of speech

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Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish and Atlanta Thrashers coach Bob Hartley each were fined $10,000 by the NHL on Saturday for criticizing officials.

On Friday Night, Edmonton Oilers coach Craig MacTavish lost his cool after referee Mick McGeough disallowed Ales Hemskey's goal with 4.1 seconds left in the 3rd period. McGeough whistled the play down during a faceoff, convinced that Shawn Horcoff made a glove pass off the draw. Video replays later showed that Horcoff had gotten low to win the faceoff but didn't get his glove on the puck and clearly moved the puck with his stick off the draw. "I know he is a veteran official and at times I have found his antics humorous, but if this is the product of that, there is a problem," MacTavish said after the game. "It was a ridiculous call." MacTavish also said McGeough "should be suspended." McGeough acknowledged he blew the call, saying, "My judgment was poor on the play." Colin Campbell, the league's director of hockey operations, said in a statement, "While the NHL regrets the missed call, Craig MacTavish's comments after the game regarding the call were totally inappropriate and crossed the line."

Atlanta Thrashers coach Bob Hartley was assessed a gross misconduct penalty and fined for verbal abuse of the officials at the end of the Thrashers' game against the Capitals on Friday night.