Shawn Thornton of the Boston Bruins has been fined over $2,800 for squirting a water bottle in P.K. Subban’s face during Saturday’s Stanley Cup playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens. Thornton apologized for the incident, while his coach, Claude Julien, wasn’t too happy.
Subban was skating past the Bruins’ bench during the game, close enough to exchange words with Thornton. Thornton took a water bottle and sprayed it in Subban’s face, getting water all over his visor. Subban went back to snap back at Thornton and complained to a referee.
The NHL decided to fine Thornton the maximum amount allowed for unsportsmanlike conduct, $2820.52. That money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.
“I obviously got caught up in the moment,” Thornton later told the media on Sunday, reports NESN. “The fine, I’ll pay the fine. I obviously agree with what the league did there. I’ll pay the fine and move on.”
Thornton said that he was sorry that his actions took attention away from his teammates’ achievements, as the team did win the game.
“I got caught up in the moment and I probably shouldn’t have done that,” Thornton said. “I’ll move on, get ready for Game 6 and hopefully have a good showing.”
His coach, Julien, was not happy. “As a coach, you always want to support your players, but there’s certain things you can’t support. I don’t think I can support Shawn on those actions,” he told the media.
The Bruins and Canadiens face off again tonight in Montreal. The Bruins have a 3-2 series lead.