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Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde reveals message he got from John Tortorella after infamous goalie pull
Photo credit: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/34175258/detroit-red-wings-hire-tampa-bay-lightning-assistant-derek-lalonde-head-coach
The Detroit Red Wings were eliminated from postseason contention last year after the Flyers gave up an empty net goal to the Capitals in regulation, a true gut punch to fans everywhere.
Detroit Red Wings fans everywhere still remember the final pair of thrilling games against the Montreal Canadiens to close out last year, both 5-4 victories by the former.
Detroit initially trailed in both games by 4-1 scores, but came out on top in both games; first, Lucas Raymond scored the tying and winning goals at Little Caesars Arena:
Then, the Red Wing were saved by a Hail Mary from David Perron, who scored off a faceoff win with just five seconds left in regulation; Detroit won the game in the shootout.
And while Perron's goal kept the Red Wings alive in their quest for the postseason, it was during overtime they learned as a team that it didn't matter any more.
The Philadelphia Flyers were battling the Washington Capitals at the same time; both teams were also vying for the final Wild Card postseason spot.
If the Flyers lost in regulation, they would be eliminated; with the score tied 1-1 late in the third period, coach John Tortorella gambled by pulling his goaltender for an extra attacker, but it ended in disaster as Washington's T.J. Oshie scored into the vacated cage.
The Capitals won the game and secured the final postseason spot; both the Red Wings and Flyers were officially finished for the year as a result.
And while angry Red Wings fans everywhere pointed a finger at Tortorella, Detroit's he received the next day from the Flyers coach.
Last year he pulls the goalie and pushes us out of the playoffs; he texts me at 7:15 the next morning, 'No disrespect. This was our plan,'. He didn't need to do that.
«Obviously, his success as a coach, but when the doors are closed, I think he's a big-time human being. I don't really know him. People don't see those things in him.
They see the brash, the hard. Obviously, it's someone I look up to in our profession, the career he's had, and being an American coach, too.
It wouldn't have mattered if the Red Wings didn't blow a 9-point lead from the cutoff point they had at the end of February
The Red Wings appeared to be well on their way to breaking their postseason drought that dates back to 2016. Thanks to a hot streak in February, they entered March with a 9-point cushion from the final Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
But then, it all fell apart. Captain Dylan Larkin went down with injury, and the Red Wings lost seven straight games (including two humiliating losses to the Arizona Coyotes).
Tortorella's decision to pull his goaltender may have ultimately resulted in costing Detroit a playoff spot, but it wouldn't have mattered had the Red Wings managed to play even .500 hockey in March and beaten teams they were supposed to.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 12 | 101 ANSWERS Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde reveals message he got from John Tortorella after infamous goalie pull What was your opinion of John Tortorella pulling his goalie and it eventually resulting in Detroit being eliminated from postseason contention? | ||
| He wrecked our season! | 13 | 12.9 % |
| Detroit should have handled their own business! | 88 | 87.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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