John Tortorella goes on rant after controversial loss, NHL responds

After a controversial loss on Sunday night, Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella offered the expected rant.

Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella regularly offers criticism of officiating, so any particular rant is nothing to really note. But after Sunday’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, which included goaltender Joonas Korpisalo going down with an injury, “Torts” made the expected appearance.

The Blue Jackets did blow a two-goal lead, so there’s that. But defenseman Zack Werenski appeared to score the game-winning goal in overtime, only to have it waived off due to time expiring before the puck crossed the line.

After Chicago got a too many men on the ice penalty, Columbus went on the man advantage in the waning seconds of the extra session.

At the post game podium, Tortorella gave his thoughts on what clearly seemed to be clock mismanagement on the ice with no oversight from the league office.

"So the whistle is blown at 19.2 on the clock. For some reason the clock is run down a second and a tenth to 18.1, for whatever reason. I have no God damn idea,” Tortorella said as he pounded the podium with a clenched fist.“So instead of resetting the clock, (the officials) tell our captain, ‘We’re not going to do it,’ Toronto doesn’t step in, refs don’t do their freaking job, and now we lose the game and we lose our goalie."

Quite simply, if the game never goes to a shootout Korpisalo’s lower body injury doesn’t occur.

On Monday morning, NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell responded to the situation. The critique of Tortorella at the end is of particular note, with the easy assumption a fine of some sort is coming.

In any case, a fine won’t deter Tortorella from criticizing officials or the league’s processes in the future. And we’ll all be better for it.