John Tortorella’s behavior becoming more erratic as Flyers fade down the stretch: ‘My job is, I’m going to push athletes’
The Philadelphia Flyers are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games as their hold on the Metropolitan Division’s third and final guaranteed playoff spot has become tenuous. The Washington Capitals are nipping at the heels of the Flyers with a 9-5-1 record in March that leapfrogged them temporarily over Philadelphia for a day or two. The Capitals (82 standings points) currently sit one point behind the Flyers (83) with two games in hand.
Flyers’ head coach John Tortorella has borne the brunt of that collapse in the most entertaining way possible for fans: testy press conferences and fiery behavior.
Many of the Flyers’ controversies and distractions have been created by Torts himself as he’s struggled to handle situations — like obvious questions from the media or difficult situations on the ice — calmly. It’s arguably been a problem that’s dogged him throughout his career.
“I’m not f—ing going, tell him to go” Tortorella appears to say if my lip-reading is correct. “I’m not going. I’m staying right f—ing (here).”
Eventually, he would walk down the tunnel and to the locker room, but the NHL was not amused with how long it took. Torts was fined and suspended for two games.
Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella has been suspended for two games and fined $50,000 for unprofessional conduct directed at the officials
by refusing to leave the bench area after being assessed a game misconduct at 10:49 of the first period of NHL Game No. 1,016 on Saturday, March 9, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell announced today.
