Tortorella rant results in fine
New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella has been fined $20,000 US for comments following New York’s NHL game at Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Tortorella was incensed when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Rangers forward Derek Stepan with a knee-on-knee hit in the game’s final five minutes.
“It’s a cheap, dirty hit,” Tortorella said to reporters after the game. “I wonder what would happen if we did it to their two whining stars over there. I wonder what would happen. So I’m anxious to see what happens with the league over this. Just no respect among players. None. It’s sickening.
“It’s one of the most arrogant organizations in the league. They whine about this stuff all the time, and look what happens.
“It’s ridiculous. But they’ll whine about something else over there, won’t they, starting with their two (expletive) stars.”
Orpik did not face supplemental discipline from the league on Friday. According to reports, Stepan did not practise with the Rangers on Friday but is expected to be OK.
Penguins star Sidney Crosby, one of the subjects of Tortorella’s rant, along with Evgeni Malkin, fired back on Friday.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Crosby said following the Penguins’ off day practice to NHL. com. “I mean, if you want you can put a camera on us all game, put a camera on (Rangers captain Ryan Callahan) all game. You’ll see who’s over there more (with the officials). He should worry about his own players.”
Earlier in the day, the league announced it was suspending Minnesota Wild defenceman Nate Prosser one game for head-butting Chicago Blackhawks forward Jamal Mayers on Thursday night.