Lightning coach apologizes for saying goalies 'might as well put skirts on' after backlash

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

After the Tampa Bay Lightning lost their first-round series to the in-state rival Florida Panthers, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper sounded off on the treatment of goalies in the NHL.

In Game 5 of the series, the one that knocked Tampa Bay out, the Lightning had two goals waved off for goalie interference.

Cooper was skeptical of the calls, calling them a "turning point" of their do-or-die contest, and he complained that battles in front of the net aren't "allowed" anymore.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning congratulates goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) of the Florida Panthers after the Panthers' 6-1 win in Game 5 of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Amerant Bank Arena April 29, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

"We might as well put skirts on them then, if that's how it's gonna be. … I think we're letting goalies off the hook," he said.

Cooper caught lots of flak for those comments, which were criticized as sexist.

Two days later, he apologized.

Head coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning directs players after taking a timeout in the final minute of Game 1 of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena April 21, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla.  (Joel Auerbach/Getty Images)

LEGENDARY NHL BROADCASTER BOB COLE DIES AT 90

"It’s one of those minutes if you could just reach back and grab the words back, I would’ve," Cooper said on Wednesday at Tampa Bay's exit interviews. "Quite frankly, it was wrong, and I’ve got to go and explain myself to my girls. … I sincerely apologize to