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Lightning's Jon Cooper Apologizes for 'Skirts' Remark After 2024 NHL Playoff Loss

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper apologized Wednesday for previous comments suggesting the league should "put skirts" on goaltenders if certain goaltender interference rulings are going to be made.

"It's one of those minutes if you could just reach back and grab the words back, I would've," he said, per the Associated Press. "Quite frankly, it was wrong and I've got to go and explain myself to my girls. ... I sincerely apologize to all I offended. It's pained me more than the actual series loss itself."

He made the initial comments following Tampa Bay's season-ending 6-1 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series.