Jonathan Quick won't be fined or suspended for Game 3 tirade

Jonathan Quick won’t be fined or suspended for Game 3 tirade

By Helene Elliott

May 19, 2013 3:19 PM PT

SAN JOSE -- Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick will not be subjected to supplementary discipline from the NHL for going out of his way to yell at referees Wes McCauley and Marc Joannette on Saturday after the Kings’ 2-1 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks in Game 3 of the teams’ Western Conference semifinal playoff series.

Quick was given a game misconduct after Sharks center Logan Couture scored the power-play winner for San Jose 1 minute 29 seconds into sudden-death overtime to cut the Kings’ series lead to two games to one. The reason for the game misconduct was verbal abuse of an official, which carries a $200 fine and the possibility of review by the league for the purpose of imposing a more costly fine or suspension.

“This matter has been dealt with,” said Rob Shick, a former NHL referee who is now an officiating manager for the NHL and is the supervisor of this series.

A league executive who did not want to be identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly also said no fine or suspension would be imposed against Quick.

The Kings were upset over two penalties that were called against them late in the third period and left them down two men to start the overtime. They killed off the first penalty, to Robyn Regehr, and were 26 seconds from killing a goaltender-interference penalty against Trevor Lewis when Couture finished off a passing play and scored from the slot.

Quick got off without further punishment this time, but he might be wise to hold his temper in the future.

According to NHL Rule 23.4, “any player who incurs a total of two game misconduct penalties for abuse of officials related infractions penalized under Rule 39, Abuse of Officials, shall be suspended automatically for the next League or Playoff game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.”

The Kings, who returned to Los Angeles following Saturday’s game, did not practice Sunday. The Sharks held meetings and an optional skate at their practice facility. Game 4 of the series will be played Tuesday at HP Pavilion in San Jose.