The NHL has suspended Flyers head coach John Tortorella for two games and fined him $50K for unprofessional conduct directed at the officials during last night’s 7-0 loss to the Lightning.
Tortorella was assessed a bench minor and a game misconduct for abuse of officials at 10:49 of the first period after Lightning center Brayden Point scored a power-play goal to increase Tampa’s lead to 4-0 early in the game. Broadcast video captured Tortorella on the bench continuing to fight with officials after the misconduct was assessed, appearing to say, “I’m not f****** leaving” multiple times to referee Wes McCauley (video link via Bally Sports Sun).
The Flyers have publicly supported Tortorella since last night’s ejection, with team governor Dan Hilferty pledging to cover his fine if one was assessed. Flyers assistant Brad Shaw told reporters this morning that Tortorella was simply expressing dissatisfaction with the calls and not going so far as to threaten the on-ice officials, while captain Sean Couturier claimed his head coach “didn’t say much” (via Charlie O’Connor of PHLY Sports).
Philadelphia’s grip on third place in the Metropolitan Division has slipped to only four points ahead of the Islanders, who have three games in hand on the Flyers. They’ll now be without their Jack Adams candidate for a two-game homestand against the Sharks and Maple Leafs as they try to keep pace in the playoff race.
The Fourth Period’s Anthony Di Marco first reported the suspension; Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first with the fine amount.
Wes wanted to be apart of the game, kinda like a baseball umpire.
It’s sad, they were unsure of their calls reserving themselves several times to the disadvantage of the Flyers.
I’d run through a brick wall for Torts
Really?
In today’s NHL of sugar-coated namby-pambies, Torts fights for his rights to parley!
Wes McCauley, who’d have guessed. If I wanted to see the zebra show I’d go to the zoo!
One of THE greatest hockey coaches and personalities of all time! I don’t miss Wayne milk toast Gretzky!
Torts over Gretzky. A complete Wilf take. And I love Torts as a coach.
These are the wilf takes we pay the big bucks for!
Well, it was not exactly the Queens English
The league’s not in a good way, if Wes McCauley is now sinking to the level of the infamous Donut King, Koharski. Somebody should look into the officials’ locker room and see if they have a sign above the door (inbound or outbound) that says, “We’re the best in the world. Just ask us, we’ll tell you!”
Vaguely reminds me of another story I thought I heard about a long-haired iconoclast who was unjustly tried and punished, and rose again on the third day. Can’t remember all the details but I think there was something about a chalice and a lot of his fans being determined to smite his enemies. Can’t quite piece it all together.. might’ve been a premonition.
@aka.nda — That’s an oldie, going back a little over 2K years ago. And, to think, that story’s still in print (both on paper & digital) to this day.
Damn. Didn’t know torts is that old! No wonder people like him so much :)
@aka.nda — I think it’s the classic voice and accent.