Blue Jackets’ Coach John Tortorella Rips Referees And NHL Following Shootout Loss To Blackhawks

Blue Jackets‘ Head coach John Tortorella could not hold back in the postgame press conference following a frustrating 3-2 shootout loss to the Blackhawks Sunday night.

During overtime, the Blackhawks were whistled for too many men on the ice with about 19 seconds left to play. The clock continued to run 1.1 seconds after the call was made, but the game officials never added the time back. After gathering the puck off a rebound, Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski took a wrist shot that beat Blackhawks’ goalie Robin Lehner at the buzzer for what appeared to be a game-winning power play goal.

But after review, it appeared the clock had expired prior to the puck going into the net which forced a shootout. If that second had been put back on the clock, it is very likely the goal would’ve counted and Columbus would’ve won.

“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. Whatever reason, I have no goddamn idea. So instead of resetting the clock, [they] tell our captain, ‘We’re not going to do it.’ [The league office in] Toronto doesn’t step in, refs don’t do their freaking job and now we lose the game, and we lose our goalie,” Tortorella said in the postgame press conference.

Columbus’ goalie, Joonas Korpisalo, required assistance to leave the ice after getting injured during Jonathan Toew‘s goal in the first round of the shootout. Tortorella continued his temper tantrum smacking the podium as he searched for answers. “So the chain of events, if it was done right is that we don’t lose our goalie and we win the hockey game. So all the goddamn technology, right? The technology and getting things right … the stubbornness tonight, by the officials and by the league and Toronto, however it’s supposed to goddamn work, screws us.”

The NHL vice president of hockey operations, Colin Campbell, referred to Tortorella’s comments in an email calling them “unprofessional” and “unacceptable.” He also confirmed that he spoke to the coach and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen assuring them that the NHL is on top of it.

The Blue Jackets have gotten a point in their last ten games, but Tortorella didn’t want to discuss that. “It’s ridiculous. I’m not taking any goddamn questions.”