VANCOUVER (CP) - Derek Morris didn't mince words Monday night.
The Colorado defenceman called Todd Bertuzzi's vicious hit from behind on Avalanche rookie Steve Moore a disgusting, pre-meditated act.
``It was disgusting,'' an angry Morris said. ``There's not other word for that.
``I've never seen anything like that in my seven years of playing hockey (in the NHL).''
Late in the third period of Colorado's convincing 9-2 win, Bertuzzi came up behind Moore, grabbed the back of Avalanche player's sweater and delivered a round-house swing with his gloved right hand that struck Moore's head. Moore fell head first to the ice under the weight of Bertuzzi, who came down on top of him at the 8:41 mark.
A pool of blood formed around Moore's head as he lay motionless on the ice. A stretcher was wheeled out and after a delay of nearly 10 minutes the 25-year-old native of Windsor, Ont., was taken off for medical attention.
Moore was conscious and talking to medical staff when he left the ice on a stretcher and was taken to hospital. Canucks general manager Brian Burke was told Moore had concussion-like symptoms and is expected to stay in hospital until at least Wednesday.
Hours after the incident, the NHL issued a release stating Bertuzzi had been suspended indefinitely - without pay - and that a hearing would be conducted Wednesday morning at the league's Toronto office.
Morris compared the attack to one in which former Canuck Donald Brashear was clubbed by a stick-swinging Marty McSorley, who was suspended by the NHL and has not played in the league again.
``The Brashear incident was obviously another thing that was bad but this was pre-meditated,'' Morris said. ``This is the worst thing I've seen.''
Bad blood between the two teams had been simmering since Moore's hit on Vancouver captain Markus Naslund during a game Feb. 16 in Denver. That resulted in Naslund suffering a concussion that cost him three games.
Moore wasn't penalized for the hit and the league took no action. That was of little solace at the time to Vancouver coach Marc Crawford, who called Moore's hit ``a cheap shot by a young kid on a captain, the leading scorer in the league.''
Bertuzzi received a 10-minute match penalty for his hit on the Avalanche centre Monday.
Colorado coach Tony Granato was seen screaming at Crawford and had to be restrained at his team's bench.
Granato said after the game Crawford was responsible for the actions of his team during the fight-filled game that drew 156 minutes in penalties, 99 to Vancouver.
``Three or four times we stood our ground like we had to and that thing happened to put an exclamation point on probably what they were trying to accomplish,'' said Granato. ``Something was said on their side. You just don't go out and start fighting for the fun of it.
``I didn't like the body language,'' Granato said of the Canuck coaching staff. ``I didn't like the way the whole thing transpired. There's no need for that, let's face it.''
Morris accused Crawford of laughing about the incident.
``The worst thing about it is their coach is over there laughing about it and that just shows the class of that guy,'' he said.
Naslund said after the game no player wants to see an opponent injured and that Bertuzzi felt awful about the incident.
''Obviously I think we all feel bad about someone getting hurt,'' Naslund said. ``It's a bad feeling when someone gets seriously injured like that.
``Todd feels awful about it and is very sorry. I know it might not mean much right now. As weird as it seems I don't think that was Todd's intentions.''
Bertuzzi, who was suspended 10 games two years ago for coming off the bench to join an on-ice fight, was unavailable for comment after the game.
Canuck forward Brad May, who said earlier there was a bounty on Moore for his hit on Naslund, agreed the game got out of hand.
``This game took a life of its own; it shouldn't have,'' said May who scored both Vancouver goals. ``For two-and-a-half to three weeks there's been a lot of talk.
``Not in both lockerooms. That's all I'm going to say.''
Colorado captain Joe Sakic said the incident took away from a solid performance by the Avalanche, who lost 7-1 at home the night before to Calgary.
``It was an ugly incident and it really puts a damper on the whole game,'' said Sakic had a goal and three assists. ``There's payback but that's not payback. That's going overboard.
``And I'm sure Todd feels bad right now about the result. No player wants to see somebody go down like that.''