What is it about the Pittsburgh Penguins that brings out the worst in John Tortorella?
Seriously.
Torts appears to lose his mind every time his teams play Crosby, Malkin and the Pens.
On Monday night, Sidney Crosby was injured and didn't play against Torts and the Blue Jackets.
That meant that Torts and the Jax would have to face 50% of Pittsburgh's dynamic duo.
If only Malkin were out of the game. That would have made things a lot easier for the struggling Blue Jackets.
Malkin was in the cross hairs of the Jax from the get-go. Things were chippy from the outset and Malkin was a constant target of clean and dirty hits.
Half way through the Penguins 5-2 win over the Blue Jax, power forward Jenner was given a two-minute tripping minor for kneeing Malkin.
It looked as if Malkin was seriously injured by the punk play. However, Big #71 returned to the game and dropped a butt kicking on Jenner and the Jax.
Geno scored two goals and played 20 minutes TOI.
During his scrum after the loss in Pittsburgh, Torts questioned Malkin's character by alleging the star forward faked an injury.
“He got up, didn’t he? It was like he was dead, and then he’s out there the next shift.…
Thanks, Blue Jackets TV
I was flabbergasted when I heard Tortorella's comments about Malkin. I still am shocked.
Those that know me know that I love Boone Jenner and his gritty style of play. I'd love to have the guy on my team because he is so tough to play against. Having said that, I hated his low-bridge hit on Malkin. Jenner is better than that. He is a tough guy and could have easily separated Malkin from the puck with a clean, hard shoulder to shoulder check. Jenner is a big man and he can more than handle himself in the physicality department. He opted to take the low road and target Malkin's knees.
I'm in favor of handing a one or two game suspension to Jenner for his careless and reckless actions.
Jenner lined up Malkin and tried to end his night, and perhaps the rest of his season, with an egregious, illegal knee-on-knee hit and somehow his head coach deliriously campaigned to make Jenner the victim.
What the hell planet does Tortorella live on?
This wasn't the first time Tortarella and Malkin were involved in an incident.
When he was head coach of the NY Rangers in 2012, then coaching the Rangers, then Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik kneed Rangers center Derek Stepan.
Rather than target Orpik, Tortarella's team attacked after Malkin and Sidney Crosby.
Who can forget Tortarella's chirps at the Penguins after that game?
“That’s one of the most arrogant organizations in sports,… Torts emoted. “They whine about this stuff all the time. It’s ridiculous.
“But they’ll whine about something else over there, won’t they? Starting with their two [expletive] stars.…
My take:
Tortorella should shut his mouth. Calling out one of the top five players in the game and a future Hall Of Famer is a bad look. Malkin was the victim of a greasy, dangerous hit. He wasn't jaking an injury to give his team and advantage over the hapless Blue Jackets.
Give your head a shake, Torts.
Torts' ginormous ego was bruised after losing to his former assistant coach Mike Sullivan and the Penguins.
Get over it, Johnny.
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