NHL fires referee Tim Peel after hot-mic incident

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Referee Tim Peel will no longer work NHL games following his comments during Tuesday's contest between the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators, the league announced.

Peel could be heard on a hot mic admitting to targeting the Predators for a penalty after whistling forward Viktor Arvidsson for tripping in the second period.

"Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game," vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said in a statement Wednesday. "Tim Peel's conduct is in direct contradiction to the adherence to that cornerstone principle that we demand of our officials and that our fans, players, coaches, and all those associated with our game expect to deserve. There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the NHL will take any and all steps necessary to protect the integrity of our game."

The Predators won the game 2-0 behind Juuse Saros' 31-save shutout. The Red Wings went 0-for-3 with the man advantage and Nashville went 1-for-2.

Peel, who refereed his first NHL contest in 1999, was set to retire at the end of the season with his last game scheduled for April 24.

The 53-year-old officiated over 1,300 NHL regular-season games, including two Winter Classics. He also refereed 90 playoff contests and during the 2014 Sochi Games.