New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella has been suspended for the 6th and possibly deciding game of the Rangers-Capitals game for squirting a fan and then tossing a water bottle into the stands during the Rangers 4-0 loss in Game 5. If you were watching the game it looked like Torts was in a running battle with Caps fans behind the Rangers bench all through the game. I saw him throw the bottle (and stand on the Rangers' bench with a hockey stick) as he was continually pestered by fans. Tortorelli had been claiming that the fan had thrown beer on him, but subsequent reviews showed that he had actually sprayed the fan first.
It wasn't until today that we saw the video of Tortorelli actually spraying water between the glass partitions at the guys behind him that started the mess. After that the fans became more and more irate and Tortorelli responded by throwing the bottle and the rest of his shenanigans.
The NHL brass has decided that Tortorelli's actions warrant serious punishment, so the Rangers will be without the coach heading into a crucial playoff game 6 were they could either finish off the Washington Capitals, or if the team loses, face a game 7 back in the Capitals arena.
Colin Campbell, the head disciplinarian of the NHL, said "While it is a difficult decision to suspend a coach at this point in a playoff series, it has been made clear to all of our players, coaches and other bench personnel that the National Hockey League cannot, and will not, tolerate any physical contact with fans."
Tortorelli had assistant coach Jim Schoenfeld with him behind the bench since the entire coaching staff had been let go back in February, so the pickins is slim as far as coaching staff goes. There is some talk that someone from the Rangers' AHL affiliate might get the call to assist Schoenfeld in the big game, but nothing has been announced yet.
The National Hockey League does have a zero tolerence level for contact with abusive fans, and assistance from the police or security personnel at the arena is usually sought. Tortorelli's suspension also appears to have the blessing of league commissioner Gary Bettman. Tortorelli had been demanding his team keep away from undisaplined play as it could cost them not just a game, but the entire series. He had benched Rangers' Sean Avery after the pesky forward had taken several stupid penalties through games 3 and 4. There was speculation that Avery might be back for Game 6 which will be Sunday at 2pm eastern. It should be a real barn burner, so you might want to tune in.
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