Flyers' Tortorella admits defeat on fight against Michigan goals: 'I've lost that battle'

[sawchuk1971]

Philadelphia Flyers' John Tortorella admits defeat on fight against Michigan goals | TSN

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella said Friday he's admitted defeat on trying to stop players from attempting Michigan goals.

www.tsn.ca

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella said Friday he's admitted defeat on trying to stop his players from attempting Michigan goals.

Tortorella was specifically asked about rookie Matvei Michkov making another attempt at the highlight-reel goal in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

“Yeah, I've lost the battle, right? I don’t think it should be in our game, but I've lost that battle," Tortorella told reporters. "I have talked to him early in the year when he was doing it every time. It was just turnovers.

"The thing I want Mich to understand is, he’s such a good player moving a puck and passing a puck, when he’s behind the net, he’s dangerous to make plays. What am I going to do, say 'Don’t do it?' What I did I was I said you need to understand that there are other pays to be made there too, because a number of the times he tried it early in the year, all they were were turnovers.

"So, yeah, I've lost the damn battle with that. I'm not going to try to fight it... I don’t think it should be in our game, but it is what it is.”

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[MeHateHe]

Do people really think the lacrosse goal is interesting anymore? The thing about gimmicks is people eventually get tired of them. This "doesn't belong in the game" thing makes Tortorella sound like a grumpy old man - players want to try things go ahead - but I lost interest in these goals when I turned in my BlackBerry.

 

[Rebels57]

Philadelphia Flyers' John Tortorella admits defeat on fight against Michigan goals | TSN

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella said Friday he's admitted defeat on trying to stop players from attempting Michigan goals.

www.tsn.ca

There was one attempt where he passed up on a wide open Konecny in the slot to attempt the Michigan. That was about a month ago and he hasn't attempted it since until last night where he almost pulled it off. Torts is right in the sense that you shouldn't pass up better looks to attempt that, but he's wrong in that "it doesn't belong in the game." It's a great weapon to have in the arsenal with how goalies today are predisposed to going down when players have possession behind the net.

Do people really think the lacrosse goal is interesting anymore? The thing about gimmicks is people eventually get tired of them. This "doesn't belong in the game" thing makes Tortorella sound like a grumpy old man - players want to try things go ahead - but I lost interest in these goals when I turned in my BlackBerry.

Pretty sure it's been done less than 10 times in the NHL in history and half of those are by Svechnikov and Zegras, so I still find it pretty damn interesting.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

No shame in admitting defeat. Torts fought valiantly.

 

[BleedBlueNYR]

Do people really think the lacrosse goal is interesting anymore? The thing about gimmicks is people eventually get tired of them. This "doesn't belong in the game" thing makes Tortorella sound like a grumpy old man - players want to try things go ahead - but I lost interest in these goals when I turned in my BlackBerry.

It's played out. I'd imagine it's such a low percentage play I don't need to see any Rangers trying it.

 

[JungleBeat]

Always bitching about Michikov. Sounds like Torts and some players are jealous.

 

[ohcomeonref]

Do people really think the lacrosse goal is interesting anymore? The thing about gimmicks is people eventually get tired of them. This "doesn't belong in the game" thing makes Tortorella sound like a grumpy old man - players want to try things go ahead - but I lost interest in these goals when I turned in my BlackBerry.

It's not a gimmick, it's just another way to score a goal. Depending on coverage, it could be the highest percentage play in some circumstances.

 

[Aeroforce]

I saw Michkov's attempt last night, and props to Cam Talbot. He knew who was behind the net and got his blocker high while moving laterally.

 

[Opus]

Torts doesn't like it from a 'smart hockey play', and how it creates turnovers. I appreciate The Michigan from a skill standpoint, but wouldn't be offended if the NHL made it illegal.

What the success rate of The Michigan, anybody know?

 

[ijuka]

If these are allowed, what, exactly, is preventing a player from carrying the puck on the blade of his stick from center ice to the opposing team's goal, and throwing the puck in the net?

To me, this shouldn't be allowed in hockey.

It's not a gimmick, it's just another way to score a goal. Depending on coverage, it could be the highest percentage play in some circumstances.

Taking the puck in your hand and throwing it in the net could also be the highest percentage play in some circumstances. Why is that not being done?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Mike Legg never got the credit he deserves for this!

There is….
“The Forsberg”
“The Datsyuk”
“The Michigan”

The Michigan should be renamed “The Legg” !!!!

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

If these are allowed, what, exactly, is preventing a player from carrying the puck on the blade of his stick from center ice to the opposing team's goal, and throwing the puck in the net?

The players on the other team, have you never played contact hockey?

This would never work lol.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

If these are allowed, what, exactly, is preventing a player from carrying the puck on the blade of his stick from center ice to the opposing team's goal, and throwing the puck in the net?

To me, this shouldn't be allowed in hockey.


Taking the puck in your hand and throwing it in the net could also be the highest percentage play in some circumstances. Why is that not being done?

Would be insanely easy to defend that if a forward attempted that!… and then the forward would get benched due to causing an absurd turnover in the neutral zone

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

If these are allowed, what, exactly, is preventing a player from carrying the puck on the blade of his stick from center ice to the opposing team's goal, and throwing the puck in the net?

To me, this shouldn't be allowed in hockey.


Taking the puck in your hand and throwing it in the net could also be the highest percentage play in some circumstances. Why is that not being done?

They can try it , good luck skating full stride balancing the puck on your stick while a guy takes your head off

The players on the other team, have you never played contact hockey?

This would never work lol.

one of the wildest comments I've ever read lol

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

The players on the other team, have you never played contact hockey?

This would never work lol.

It’s the kind of question everyone has asked themselves but figured out on their own within two seconds via common sense. Well almost everyone.

 

[Ceremony]

If these are allowed, what, exactly, is preventing a player from carrying the puck on the blade of his stick from center ice to the opposing team's goal, and throwing the puck in the net?

The other team. Much like the play from behind the net, come to think of it.

 

[Jacob]

That seems like a fair answer. Basically go for it if you see it as your best option, but don’t do it just to try it.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

There’s a very curious irony in someone like Tortorella expressing how he “feels about” a certain play, despite the fact that it’s just another method to put the puck in the net. Seeing an opportunity to score and taking it.

Like who gives a f*** about how anyone “feels” about scoring a goal. If it’s effective and permitted by the rule book, then it’s allowed. It’d be one thing if this was some new wave trend that was changing the entire way the game was played, but even now, it’s rarely successful. Trying to inject some type of dismay or other emotion into how it “feels” is just pretentious, and again, a pretty ironic take from a coach with a hard-nosed, “just get it done and don’t make excuses” attitude.

Edi: and I understand his word on it here is fairly mild, but he’s definitely bitched about it outright before without any caveats.

 

[hamzarocks]

They can try it , good luck skating full stride balancing the puck on your stick while a guy takes your head off


one of the wildest comments I've ever read lol

You're telling me the flying V doesnt work in real life?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Idk I don’t think there have been any this season had there?

 

[TheNumber4]

Dude who tells McDavid to just SHUT UP and do his job.

Whines about Fancy goals and diving instead of just doing his job.

 

[SomeDude]

If these are allowed, what, exactly, is preventing a player from carrying the puck on the blade of his stick from center ice to the opposing team's goal, and throwing the puck in the net?

To me, this shouldn't be allowed in hockey.

There is another team out there trying to stop the team who has the puck from scoring. This would be very easy to stop just like 95% of the time when someone tries to go coast to coast traditionally they get stopped.

Taking the puck in your hand and throwing it in the net could also be the highest percentage play in some circumstances. Why is that not being done?

Because it’s against the rules.

I don’t know why it’s hard to grasp that the lacrosse style goal is a legitimate tactical option to have available that can be very effective. It also can be detrimental like Torts is pointing out. If you miss, it’s almost a guaranteed turnover.

The same issue happens when someone overshoots the net and the puck rings around for an easy clear. There is some level of risk to every offensive maneuver.

 

[Jacob]

If these are allowed, what, exactly, is preventing a player from carrying the puck on the blade of his stick from center ice to the opposing team's goal, and throwing the puck in the net?

To me, this shouldn't be allowed in hockey.

This would be impossible. The puck is wet and your stick is wet and you’re skating while evading defenders, all they’d have to do is tap your stick and you’d loose it, if by some miracle you didn’t lose it yourself.

You can’t really pass the puck in such a position either, further limiting your options.

That’s why it’s so rare and impressive that someone can pull this move off for even a millisecond to shovel it into the net.

 

[Shocker]

If these are allowed, what, exactly, is preventing a player from carrying the puck on the blade of his stick from center ice to the opposing team's goal, and throwing the puck in the net?

To me, this shouldn't be allowed in hockey.


Taking the puck in your hand and throwing it in the net could also be the highest percentage play in some circumstances. Why is that not being done?

Your first point was already f***ing stupid and then you double downed on an even more stupider one in the same post, congrats, you truly are f***ing stupid.

 

[kingpest19]

Mike Legg never got the credit he deserves for this!

There is….
“The Forsberg”
“The Datsyuk”
“The Michigan”

The Michigan should be renamed “The Legg” !!!!

It should be called the Armstrong since Bill Armstrong was the first to do it in the AHL and taught it to Legg