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Golden Knights’ John Tortorella stands firmly behind controversial challenge in Game 2
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- Golden Knights’ John Tortorella stands firmly behind controversial challenge in Game 2
Golden Knights' John Tortorella stands firmly behind controversial challenge in Game 2 appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Stanley Cup Final has yet to shift to Sin City, but Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella was already operating with a gambler's mindset late in the third period of Thursday night's Game 2 battle versus the Carolina Hurricanes . Unfortunately for the fiery 67-year-old, the house always wins.
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During a tense sequence with five minutes remaining in regulation, Pavel Dorofeyev attempted to poke the loose puck through the net for what would have been a go-ahead goal. The referee whistled the play dead, as uncertainty engulfed the arena, and living rooms around the world. Was it goalie interference? Did Frederik Andersen cover the puck and end the chaos? Or did Vegas take the lead? The officials denied Dorofeyev and the Golden Knights a chance to stomp on the Canes' heart.
Tortorella vehemently disagreed and challenged the ruling, leaving his squad vulnerable to a penalty kill situation during crunch time. Sure enough, the call was upheld and Carolina took the lead on the power play. Captain Mark Stone sent the action into overtime, refusing to let the refs' controversial decision demoralize his team, but Seth Jarvis willed the Hurricanes to a series-tying victory early in the additional period. Tortorella is now swimming in a pool of scrutiny.
He is not wavering, however. The 2004 Stanley Cup champion and two-time Jack Adams Award winner fervently believes he made the right choice . "I would make that challenge 10 out of 10 times," he said after the 4-3 loss, per The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy.
Fans will mock Tortorella for his adamant stance, especially given the magnitude of this specific risk, but the Knights had plenty of chances to secure a massive 2-0 series advantage heading back to T-Mobile Arena. They led 2-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the third and then recaptured momentum entering overtime. Ultimately, though, many people will reduce the outcome of this wild matchup to a coach's judgement.
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John Tortorella had complete confidence in his team, and on this night, it backfired. He will continue to trust his guys going into Game 3. The no-goal call cannot impede Vegas' preparations, but a little extra rage fuel could be beneficial.
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