Devils' Tootoo calls trash talk by Canucks' Burrows 'classless'

Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows is a noted agitator, and few would be surprised he would do anything it takes to get under his opponent's skin, but he may have taken things too far Sunday.

Following the Canucks' overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils, forward Jordin Tootoo told Rich Chere of NJ.com that while both players were penalized during the first period, Burrows' trash talk was out of line.

"If you're going to talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk. To make the remarks he did about my personal life and family is classless and unacceptable in this day and age," said Tootoo, who went to fight Burrows after exiting the penalty box. "That's why I went after him."

Burrows did not drop the gloves, leaving teammate Derek Dorsett to scrap with the Devils forward. Tootoo suggested the league needs to look into what was said.

"Everyone fights a fight no one knows about and when you dive into personal issues, it's just classless," Tootoo said. "To me, that's cowardly."

The 12-year NHL veteran totaled 151 points and 915 penalty minutes in his career. Tootoo voluntarily entered the NHL's Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program in 2010, admitting an alcohol problem.

Burrows did not speak with the media following the game.