Florida Panthers enforcer Krys Barch – brought to Florida in a trade with Dallas last month – was ejected after linesman Darren Gibbs overheard him use a racial slur during a scrum near the Florida net at the end of the first period of Florida's game against Montreal.

Barch's slur was aimed toward Montreal's P.K. Subban, who is black.

“No comment,'' general manager Dale Tallon said as he was heading downstairs during the second intermission. “I don't know what happened yet.''

Said team general partner Cliff Viner: “This is not what the character of this organization is about. Period. I'm devastated by that kind of behavior. That is not what we're about as an organization, a team, coaching staff, hockey operations.

"Dale, I'm sure, will be very critical of this. I hope they talk to the team and let them know this is unacceptable. You play hard, you fight hard. But that's not part of any competition.''