Need Canes and Jets to take care of business and for the Fly guys to get 2 points this weekend.

Pens will finish bottom 10, chances of them winning the lottery?

Ersson, York and the Tippett-Frost-TK line were especially good tonight. Torts should let someone else coach in OT.

Also, way to go Captain Accountability. Did not field questions before or after the game. Seems like he does not want to be held accountable for the Coots situation or his awful OT lineup philosophy.

Maybe he just needs to request a meeting with himself. Worked for Frost.

So Torts only does the press conferences if they win now?
- Feanor

classic control issues, can't tell him what to do, childish. Then there is the Torts that has this team in a position to make the playoffs.

It doesn't matter what I think. It sure as hell doesn't matter what YOU think (whoever the hell you are). it DOES matter how this went over in the room, with Tortorella barely communicating beyond "you need to be better", then scratching their captain in a must-win game, and then sending an assistant coach out to do gameday media because the HC "doesn't want to talk today" (THAT was the reason we were told, and which turned out to be true). That was weak as hell.

And if you don't think the players noticed and didn't like it -- or that the GM and the POHO didn't notice it and were A-OK with it (not the scatch decision, which is a coach's prerogative, but with someone who preaches professionalism and accountability out the wazoo demonstrating anything but those traits -- I can you that you are 100 percent wrong.


Fact: Back in November, Tortorella was asked about Couturier's very heavy ice time. He said they KNEW he had to be mindful of load management but "with the way the games have been, we have to focus first on winning."

OK, then. So Tortorella is AWARE there's a risk of Couturier hitting the wall but decides to cross that bridge when he comes to it.

Now it's early January. Couturier has played 40 games, putting up basically three points per every four games (29 to be precise) and is averaging 20:03 of ice time. So he's doing fine, team is winning, but they're still burning candle at both ends with the player.

Now it's Jan 12-13. Couturier misses two games with an injury (not his back, but something that could linger for awhile). Returns against Dallas. Has a good first game back (adrenaline?). THEN the drop-off happens, steeply and immediately.

It lasts for six weeks. Tortorella KNOWS all the backstory. Yet, reportedly, it's Tortorella's decision to name Couturier captain (which has also been insisted is acurate behind the scenes). Meanwhile, Tortorella had already taken to the crap on the players head/ damn with faint praise method he often uses.

Now it's March. Couturier has never uttered one word of complaint about being moved down in the lineup. Downplays that the mid-January injury had anything to do with his drop-off in play. Actually started playing better in three of his last four games. Healthy scratch for the first time in his NHL career. Faces the music by discussing it, admitting his frustration. That's all it was. A moment of frustration. Insisted he wouldn't rock the boat and would just keep working, which is 100 percent credible because it's what he's done, day in and day out for 13 years.

Where's the coach? Didn't "feel like" talking. Sends an assistant coach out -- who, by the way, gave some worthwhile insight about the area he actually does coach and defers all Couturier questions to the head coach. But the head coach refuses to discuss it again after the game. And won't discuss it two days later when he scratches his captain again in another huge game.

YOU, pal, are not around the room. You have no contact with players or management or anyone around the team. You're a Tortorella fan, and that's fine. But don't tell me you have the slightest clue what's been going on all year. You don't.

No, I don't think Tortorella is going to be dismissed as HC or anything like that. No, I don't think he deserves no credit for things that have right overall this year. He does. But don't tell me "this well strengthen his grip" or some bullcrap like that. This did not help and was not necessary.

That's it.
- bmeltzer

Late, but goddamn!!

So you are black_francis.
- MBFlyerfan

Hahah hilarious slip up. All the multi-account folks on here are just sad.

Hahah hilarious slip up. All the multi-account folks on here are just sad.
- Tomahawk

I fell asleep last night since I need to be up at 5am on Fridays. Is it true Tippett Konecny and Frost never saw the ice in OT?

Laughlin & Stellick this morning on NHL radio were just as perplexed by the coach’s approach. They questioned the assistant coach being trotted out in front of the press and the coach’s refusal to talk about benching the captain. So it’s got the attention of the national hockey media.

I fell asleep last night since I need to be up at 5am on Fridays. Is it true Tippett Konecny and Frost never saw the ice in OT?
- MBFlyerfan

That would be correct. Started Poehling and Foerster and then changed to Laughton and Farabee.

I fell asleep last night since I need to be up at 5am on Fridays. Is it true Tippett Konecny and Frost never saw the ice in OT?
- MBFlyerfan

100% true.

I fell asleep last night since I need to be up at 5am on Fridays. Is it true Tippett Konecny and Frost never saw the ice in OT?
- MBFlyerfan

100 % and then skipped out of the post game presser and let Shaw speak (again)

I fell asleep last night since I need to be up at 5am on Fridays. Is it true Tippett Konecny and Frost never saw the ice in OT?
- MBFlyerfan

At this point it kinda feels like he's just protesting the 3v3 format lol.

100 % and then skipped out of the post game presser and let Shaw speak (again)
- Flyfly

Wonder how the President and GM feel about the Coach who goes to great lengths about preaching accountability, yet shows a total disregard for said accountability. Really seems like the President and GM are the coaches lackey's to an extent.

Wonder how the President and GM feel about the Coach who goes to great lengths about preaching accountability, yet shows a total disregard for said accountability. Really seems like the President and GM are the coaches lackey's to an extent.
- furio16

It does appear that way which is wild. But, they were the ones to push Torts as the face of the franchise.

Late, but goddamn!!
- Tomahawk

smackdown...

100 % and then skipped out of the post game presser and let Shaw speak (again)
- Flyfly

I know this is just Torts playing psychological games, but to whose benefit? It seems like a needless distraction at a very important part of the season. Its just weird.

I know this is just Torts playing psychological games, but to whose benefit? It seems like a needless distraction at a very important part of the season. Its just weird.
- MBFlyerfan

His egos?

I know this is just Torts playing psychological games, but to whose benefit? It seems like a needless distraction at a very important part of the season. Its just weird.
- MBFlyerfan

I don't understand it either. The Torts superfans will say they are winning so he is pushing all the right buttons. It just seems childish...

At this point it kinda feels like he's just protesting the 3v3 format lol.
- Tomahawk

His player usage in OT has been very questionable from day 1.

I know this is just Torts playing psychological games, but to whose benefit? It seems like a needless distraction at a very important part of the season. Its just weird.
- MBFlyerfan

It's all part of the soap opera that is to keep you, as a fan, entertained.

I know this is just Torts playing psychological games, but to whose benefit? It seems like a needless distraction at a very important part of the season. Its just weird.
- MBFlyerfan

I have to say that they have looked better since Coot's scratching. Only saw the first 2 periods last night, but the one thing that stood out to me is the fact that they really seemed to be playing a fast game against a fast team. They didn't look outta place at all and it gives me hope that they can keep up with the Canes if/when they meet them in the first round of the big dance.

You lose a ton of credibility when you complain about stereotypes and then use a stereotype about yourself
- corduroy

It’s a stereotype?

Hahah hilarious slip up. All the multi-account folks on here are just sad.
- Tomahawk

🤷🏾‍♂️

Would you like to offer another penis size conversion to start the day?

🤷🏾‍♂️

Would you like to offer another penis size conversion to start the day?
- roenick97

Are me talking millimeters to inches or meters to feet? Not that I care just wondering how the convo might work.

I have to say that they have looked better since Coot's scratching. Only saw the first 2 periods last night, but the one thing that stood out to me is the fact that they really seemed to be playing a fast game against a fast team. They didn't look outta place at all and it gives me hope that they can keep up with the Canes if/when they meet them in the first round of the big dance.
- Phillywhiteout

I don't believe moving Cates to center has made the team better. Cates-Poehling-Hathaway line was effective for weeks. They basically did not play the 4th line last night. Tippett- Frost-TK have basically carried the offense the last 2 games. Tippett certainly has issues defensively, but his play making ability is starting to show improvement.

Bill,
Is the Philly media ever going to take Torts to task for ducking questions about benching the team captain?

Imagine if the Phils skipper benched Harper or if Sirianni benched Hurts and then they both refused to answer questions about their actions and sent their assistants to face the music.

Tortorella preaches accountability, what a joke. He is both a hypocrite and a coward. The media should be ripping him a new one.