Last Saturday's game between the Philadelphia Flyers and Tampa Bay Lightning was quite eventful. With the Lightning leading 4-0, a penalty against the Flyers sent coach John Tortorella into a furious outburst against the referees.
Despite being ejected, Tortorella refused to leave the bench, leading to a heated confrontation that has since been analyzed by a lip-reading expert.
Tortorella's actions resulted in a two-game suspension and a hefty $50,000 fine. The NHL's response suggests a zero-tolerance approach to coaches' treatment of referees, particularly regarding Tortorella's refusal to comply with the ejection.
This incident comes amidst a trend of head coaches being fined for their comments towards officials, albeit at much lower amounts. It appears the NHL is aiming to send a clear message to coaches about respecting referees, especially as the intensity ramps up heading into the playoffs.
