Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour fined $25,000 after criticizing officiating in loss to Bruins

Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour was upset about a controversial goal during a 4-3 loss to the Boston Bruins.

And the NHL fined him $25,000 for calling the league "a joke" and saying, "That one is a crime scene" in comments to the (Raleigh) News & Observer.

Brind'Amour had challenged a second-period goal by Boston's Charlie Coyle, which appeared to be a hand pass. But the league ruled that because Hurricanes goalie Petr Mrazek controlled the puck, that negated a hand pass. Boston's Anders Bjork knocked the puck loose from under Mrazek's goal before Coyle scored.

The coach, though, was more concerned that he wasn't told by the referees about the call on the ice, which would have helped him make a proper challenge.

“They came to me, and I said, ‘If he has possession of it then it’s goalie interference. If he doesn’t have possession then it’s a hand pass. It’s one of the two. I don’t know what you’re calling on the ice,’” Brind’Amour said, according to The News & Observer. “All he has to do is tell me. ‘We’re calling it non-possession (by Mrazek),’ then we’re challenging a glove-hand pass. If it’s possession, then goaltender interference. I said, ‘Tell me the call on the ice.’ They wouldn’t do it when I say, ‘What is the call?’ So I had to flip a coin. ...

“I said, ‘What was the call on the ice?’ and he said, ‘You’ve got to call one or the other.’ It should be so easy. If they said the goalie had it, then it’s an easy call. They wouldn’t tell you. It makes no sense."

In addition to having the goal count and falling behind 2-1, the Hurricanes were penalized for an unsuccessful challenge. But Carolina got the goal back when Brock McGinn scored short-handed.

The Hurricanes ended up losing in the second overtime and fell behind 1-0 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal at the Toronto hub.

In addition to the $25,000 fine, Brind'Amour was fined a conditional $25,000, which will be collected "in the event of similar inappropriate behavior through Aug. 12, 2021." The league used a similar conditional fine against Columbus Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella during the regular season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoffs: Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour rips league, fined $25,000