The NHL announced on Tuesday evening that forward has been fined $5,000 for public comments directed at referee Brad Watson following Montreal's Game 2 lo s to the .Prust was a se sed 31 penalty minutes during the game, 27 of which came late in the third period during a sequence that saw him be penalized for tripping Lightning goalie , getting into a fight with and throwing his elbow pad at the Tampa Bay bench. Earlier in the game he was penalized for tripping Coburn and then received an additional unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on top of that. Following the game, , saying that the refereee kept provoking him by calling him "every name in the book."He then said Watson tries to "play God and tries to control the game."On Dustin Garneau Jersey Tuesday, the NHL responded with the fine. "Brandon Prust's postgame comments were both basele s and demeaning of a referee whose 20-year career in the League has been marked by profe sionalism, integrity and a high degree of respect from players, coaches and management," NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement released by the league. hours before the fine was officially handed out."First off I'd like to apologize to Brad Watson and the rest of the officials in the NHL," Prust said. "If I caused any embarra sment or headaches, it was uncalled for. We got in a heated exchange that should've stayed between us. "I've always played by the code on and off the ice. I'm a pretty honest player. Sometimes I cro s the line. It was tough, it was emotional. I just got into a fight, I just threw my elbow pad at their bench, we just lost 6-2 and five minutes later we had to go interviews. I wasn't myself. I was agitated. I'm an emotional player. I always have been. Usually I use it to my advantage, but on Sunday I didn't." Mickey Stanley Jersey