VANCOUVER -- Management of the Vancouver Canucks was outraged yesterday over the substantial penalty levied against the club as an adjunction to the season-ending suspension of star player Todd Bertuzzi.

The National Hockey League fined the Canucks $250,000 (U.S.) for its failure to prevent the atmosphere that may have led to Bertuzzi's mugging of Steve Moore in a game at General Motors Place on Monday.

Moore suffered severe injuries, including two cracked vertebrae in his neck, when hit with a gloved fist of Bertuzzi, who attacked the unsuspecting Colorado Avalanche player from behind.

Moore was immobilized and taken to the Vancouver General Hospital's spinal unit. He apparently was able to sit up in bed when teammates visited him on Tuesday, and he may return to Denver after the weekend.

Bertuzzi was suspended for final 13 games of the regular season and all of the playoffs, NHL vice-president Colin Campbell said yesterday. Bertuzzi could be reinstated for the 2004-05 season, if there's no labour disruption, after a hearing with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

The NHL did not officially fine Bertuzzi, although at least $501,926.23 of his annual salary of $6.8-million will be forfeited and turned over to the NHL Players Emergency Fund.

Canucks general manager Brian Burke defended Bertuzzi, calling him a "great hockey player and warm human being," but termed the fine and any suggestion coach Marc Crawford was at fault as "horribly unjust."

"As far as I can tell, the investigation into this matter lasted less than 10 minutes and all took place yesterday," Burke said. "I am absolutely shocked at the size of the fine and the notion that Marc did anything other than what a coach is supposed to do in this circumstance."

Crawford complained bitterly about officiating and a lack of respect toward Vancouver captain Marcus Naslund by Moore after Naslund suffered a concussion from a Moore hit on Feb. 16 in Denver.

There was open talk of retribution by Vancouver players.

In a rematch on March 3 in Denver, there was no hint of any further hostility toward Moore. This week, it was far different in Vancouver during a lopsided game. Moore fought once, scored a goal and later was jumped by Bertuzzi in the third period of the game, won by Colorado.

Moore left the game on a stretcher, his neck in a brace. Bertuzzi was escorted off the ice by a linesman.

Burke was critical of media that vilified Bertuzzi's actions. He also thought there was not enough analysis of Colorado's part in the incident.

Fan reaction through radio phone-in shows was mixed, with many callers saying that, in time, Bertuzzi may be forgiven for his impulsiveness.

"We asked these players to play with adrenalin," Burke said. "It's the thing we prize in Canada -- intensity, competitiveness, grit, sand in their game.

"We turn over stones to find guys that have it. We demand it of our players. That's the knife's edge these players play on. The line got crossed here, and we accept that."

Burke claimed he dealt with the Naslund injury and statements by the coach and players through Crawford after Feb. 16.

Crawford indicated he prepared his team properly for two more games against Colorado, with the focus on winning rather than retribution.

"I thought we did everything that we could leading up to the game," Crawford said of Monday's encounter. "We prepared in a way in which we thought was best suited for a much-needed victory against a heated rival."

The Moore incident is under investigation by Vancouver police as a possible assault, after several complaints from the public.

Bertuzzi's suspension was handed down four years after Marty McSorley of the Boston Bruins was found guilty of assault with a weapon after he struck Vancouver player Donald Brashear over the head with a hockey stick. McSorley was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation.

The NHL suspended McSorley for the rest of the season, which turned out to be 23 games, and extended the suspension for a year when Boston missed the playoffs. McSorley did not apply for reinstatement.

Naslund reaffirmed his support of teammate Bertuzzi before saying there was no talk or retribution against Moore by the Vancouver players.

"[The fine] was totally wrong," Naslund said. "I don't know where they get the information to fine a team.

"It's difficult for a coach to handle everything."

Vancouver veteran Trevor Linden, the president of the NHL Players Association, also reiterated the Moore incident was not premeditated.

Canucks winger Mike Keane, who has played in the NHL since 1988, said the Moore incident was no worse than when Matt Johnson of the Los Angeles Kings clobbered Jeff Beukeboom of the New York Rangers from behind in 1998.

"I feel the Johnson hit on Beukeboom was way more severe," Keane said. "Beukeboom never played again."

Johnson was suspended for 12 games, while Beukeboom never played another NHL game.