NEW YORK -- Panthers forward Krys Barch was suspended one game by the NHL for an “inappropriate comment” in last Saturday’s 3-2 win over visiting Montreal.

Barch, Florida’s top enforcer, missed Thursday night’s game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Linesman Darren Gibbs overheard Barch yell something at Montreal’s P.K. Subban, who is black, as Subban skated off the ice after a fight with Florida’s Erik Gudbranson. Barch was given a 10-minute misconduct and ejected from the game, and an NHL official told The Miami Herald it was for a racial slur.

The NHL held a hearing on the matter Thursday morning. Barch was joined on the conference call by coach Kevin Dineen as well as NHL Players Association representation.

“I stated my case; I know myself and what I said. It may have been inappropriate, but it was nowhere near a racial slur nor that intent,’’ Barch said after Florida’s morning practice at Chelsea Piers. “The things I said were pretty explicit and maybe not for kids’ ears, so that’s why I can’t repeat it. My grandma wouldn’t want to hear it. Lets put it that way.’’

Although Barch nor the Panthers would divulge what Barch said, two sources told The Herald that, aside from various expletives, Barch asked Subban if he “slipped on a banana peel” after his legs went out from under him during the scrum with Gudbranson.

“There is no debate over what was said,’’ Dineen said. “The content or the context of the comment can and should be debated over what the intent of the comments were. I have a lot of respect for Krys Barch and how he’s handled himself the past five days. This has been extremely tough on him. ... All the information was laid out there. We respect the league’s decision and move on.’’

Scott Norton, Barch’s agent, said last Sunday that Barch meant nothing racial by his comment and said that it was all just a misunderstanding. Barch said he was told by NHL vice president Colin Campbell that if the NHL thought Barch used a racial slur, his suspension would be between five and 10 games.

Campbell used stronger language in his official explanation for the suspension.

“As a player in the National Hockey League,’’ Campbell wrote in a release, “he must be held accountable for making a comment that, in the context in which it was made, and in light of the entirety of the circumstances, was offensive and unacceptable.”

Barch said he called Subban on Sunday to explain himself. Subban claims he didn’t hear anything said, and Barch told him. “I’d rather him hear it from me,’’ Barch said.

The Panthers are not expected to sanction Barch further. As one unnamed member of the team said, “He used a bad choice of words, no doubt. But it did look like Subban slipped on something. Barchy is a great guy. He didn’t mean what it sounded like that night. We’ll put this behind us.’’