Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella found himself in a familiar situation Sunday when he got ejected for yelling at an official. Except this time, the furious Flyers coach refused to leave.
The Flyers were playing the Lightning in Tampa, and things quickly started to fall apart for Philadelphia. Midway through the first period, with the Reds already trailing 3-0, Philadelphia’s Ronnie Attard was called for tripping Tampa Bay’s Braden Point. The ensuing power play led to another goal for Tampa Bay, followed by an outburst from Tortorella that drew the umpires’ attention.
Flyers coach John Tortorella wouldn’t go home after being thrown 😂 pic.twitter.com/YNDaCzwFyZ
— Bally Sports Sun: Lightning (@BallyLightning) March 10, 2024
Tortorella was given a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct and game misconduct. Officials removed him from the game for this violation, but when they told Flyers coaches to come off the bench, he refused.
John Tortorella of the Philadelphia Flyers is ejected during the first period of a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 9, 2024 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. (Mike Carlson/NHLI via Getty Images)
There is no audio of the exchange with the umpires, but it is clear that Tortorella emphasized that he had no intention of following the umpires’ order to leave the bench and warned him using profanity. However, in the end, “Toots” decided to leave.
Things didn’t improve for Philadelphia even after the head coach left. The Lightning added three more goals and defeated the Flyers 7-0. Tortorella was suspended for two games by the NHL after his verbal abuse.
The Flyers currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division.
