John Tortorella Situation Quotations

I think that was one of those situations where Marty was trying to deliver a message to the team. He was dead on in this game as far as his intensity and the way he wanted to put the game on his back.

It's not a fighter. It's not a tough guy. It's not an idiot. It's a guy who is willing to bring a presence and in certain situations step up and stick up for his teammates and create room. But he also has to be a good player to play within a lineup.

I'm not up here trying to rip anybody apart. But let's be (expletive) honest about what is going on here. It is getting old. We are going nowhere, nowhere until that situation is straightened out.

Sure I am (concerned). We're in a tough situation here. I'm not going to sit here and (lie) to you.

He's got to go down and play. The next time he gets a chance here, and it could be this year, you have to come in with the mind-set that you need to try to make a difference. I don't think he played badly, I just don't think it was a situation where he was trying to make a difference. He was just kind of feeling his way through it a little bit. And the minutes he was getting, it doesn't give him a great opportunity.

I knew there was going to be a ton of adversity and a lot of ups and downs, and that's what's happened. We've gone through some now for 41 games. Now we have to learn to fight through it and just try to find a way to get points. We are not in a situation where, and I'm trying to stress to the guys, don't look at the standings or projections or this, that or the other thing. We're taking it a game at a time and I think that really has to be our concentration. One game at a time and try to find a way to get points each and every game.

From all the reports I get from the players that have come up here, from the reports from the coaches and everybody said that he has handled himself very well in a situation where there could be a little whining. I wouldn't agree with the whining, but it happens and he hasn't done it.

From our goaltending right on out, I thought we played well, I thought we played hard, I thought we created a lot of offence but you're still in the situation where you're not putting that puck in the net when you have those chances. The 20 minutes in the third period was very important in just finding a way.

I hope he plays well. If he plays well, he's going to go again. I'm not up here trying to rip anybody apart. Let's be honest about what's going on here, and it's getting old. We're going no where until that situation is straightened out.

I just think we have a high-character team. In situations like this, I think you find out about a lot of people. I'm just happy for them that they found a way to get a win in here to make this a series because I don't think a lot of people gave us a chance to win a game.

This time of year, with so few games left, I still think we need to do some coaching we can't just let them run and not teach in certain areas, but in these situations you need to get the points no matter how you do it. Then we'll worry about the other stuff after.

We've been through a lot tougher situations than this in our past. We will get it done.