Avs’ Josh Manson gets maximum fine for incident with Wild’s Michael McCarron

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson has been fined $5,000 — the maximum allowable under the CBA — for butt-ending Minnesota Wild forward Michael McCarron in Game 4, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Tuesday.

The incident occurred at 7:07 of the first period Monday in St. Paul. Manson jabbed the butt end of his stick into McCarron’s face after the two became tangled along the boards. Officials initially let play continue before stopping it to call a five-minute major, then reviewed the play and downgraded it to a double-minor for an attempted butt-end.

The Wild scored on the ensuing power play — Danila Yurov’s goal at 9:46, assisted by Brock Faber and Vladimir Tarasenko — to take a 1-0 lead. Colorado rallied for a 5-2 win and a 3-1 series lead.

The fine — and the lack of a suspension — means Manson will be available for Game 5 at Ball Arena.

McCarron called Manson “a dirty player” in a viral interview after the first period.

“If he wants to call me a dirty player, he can look at my history,” Manson responded after the game: “It’s been 13 years and I haven’t been suspended yet. … I butt ended him. Was it on purpose? Was that my intention? Absolutely not. Did I want to punch him in the head? I did want to punch him in the head.”

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