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John Tortorella on Blasting the Philadelphia Flyers
John Tortorella is known for his no-nonsense approach to coaching, never one to shy away from calling out his players, whether it be privately or in the public eye. A recent incident involving the healthy scratching of captain and former Selke Trophy winner Sean Couturier is just one example of Tortorella’s willingness to hold his players accountable.
Effort Questioned
After his Philadelphia Flyers fell to the New York Islanders in overtime, Tortorella did not hold back in his assessment of his team’s performance. When asked about their effort, he responded emphatically, stating, “Soft. One guy played: the goalie.” Ivan Fedotov, making his NHL debut in relief of Samuel Ersson, impressed Tortorella with 16 saves in the second period, including a crucial stop on a Mathew Barzal breakaway.
Embarrassing Display
Despite Fedotov’s standout performance, Tortorella was quick to criticize the rest of his team’s effort. He lamented the lack of understanding and competitiveness in certain players, labeling the team’s second-period display as “embarrassing.” While some players showed resilience in tying the game in the third period, Tortorella made it clear that it was not enough to overshadow the poor performance that came before.
“(Fedotov) is the only (expletive) player that played the second period,” Tortorella remarked, leaving no room for interpretation about his disappointment in the team’s overall effort.
Mixed Results
Despite the loss to the Islanders, the Flyers managed to secure an overtime point, edging past the Washington Capitals for third place in the Metropolitan Division. As a result, if the playoffs started today, the Flyers would face the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for Tortorella’s squad to redeem themselves.
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