Flames Coach Starts Indefensible Brawl, Canucks Coach Suspended 15 Days

On Saturday night there was a very troubling start to the game between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. Each team started a line of goons and within two seconds of the puck dropping, everyone on the ice dropped their gloves and began brawling.

Actually, it was the visiting Flames who sent out their tough guys first—an unorthodox strategy to say the least. Playing in Vancouver gave the Canucks the final change, which forced coach John Tortorella’s hand to counter with a bruising line of his own.

[Click here to watch the full ridiculous spectacle]

It took the officials over two minutes to regain control and the fighting resulted in an epic 142 minutes in penalties, including two game misconducts. The immediate result was two comically overstuffed penalty boxes—quite literally standing room only.

Also comically overstuffed? The game sheet. Here’s the list of penalties given out at exactly 00:02 of the first period:

Tortorella was absolutely livid during and after the incident and was seen screaming at Calgary’s Bob Hartley, behind the opposing bench. This is a guy with a notoriously hot temper and hairpin trigger, who isn’t one to forgive and forget.

After the first period a red hot Torts charged down the Canucks hallway to the main hallway, hoping for a word with the Flames coaching staff. Thankfully (for him and everyone else involved) he was stopped short of an altercation.

One that could’ve been uglier than the brawl itself.

[Click here to watch that ridiculous spectacle]

On Monday word came down from the league office that both coaches had been disciplined for their respective actions. Hartley, who obviously instigated the whole thing but managed to keep his cool, was fined $25,000. Said the NHL of his behavior:

“We are holding Mr. Hartley responsible for the actions of Flames’ right wing Kevin Westgarth, who took the game’s opening face-off and attempted to instigate a premeditated fight with an unwilling opponent—the Canucks’ Kevin Bieksa.”

Tortorella, on the other hand, was met with a 15 day suspension—without pay—for going bananas during the intermission. He is not allowed any contact or interaction with the team before, during or after the next six games. Said the NHL of his behavior:

“Mr. Tortorella’s actions in attempting to enter the Calgary Flames locker room after the first period were both dangerous and an embarrassment to the League. Coaches in the NHL bear the responsibility of providing leadership, even when emotions run high, and Mr. Tortorella failed in his responsibility to the game.”

The real winners here are the Vancouver hockey reporters. Tortorella’s suspension is their paid vacation, because they won’t have to be chastised by the angriest man in hockey (that wears a suit) for two full weeks.

Who says dreams don’t come true? Kidding, Torts! You’re a dream. (Please don’t yell at me)