Flyers pull goalie approximately 1 minute after being eliminated, gift Caps playoff spot

[BiolaRunner]

WC2 last season was 92 points. In 18-19 it was 90 points (Western). In 15-16 Minnesota made it with 87 points.

You really sure about the label "historically"?

As a Sens fan, he is an expert on bad teams

 

[ClydeLee]

Could easily have a member of their staff do that.

And what would be the point of that? It doesn't matter. Seasons over when they find out Detroit got a point... Why would it matter to them to have a staffer watching to tell the bench to change course? They had a game-plan, they were sticking with it

There's zero reason for Torts of Philly to have been engaged in that games outcome. Them losing, doesn't matter, (it actually helped a bit draft wise didn't it?)

 

[hockeykicker]

you are mssing the point though, when they pulled their goalie, the Flyers were already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs due to Detroit going to OT

why is this so hard to understand?

Orrrrr The flyers after getting eliminated had nothing to play for so they want to purposely lose to get better draft odds so they pulled the goalie

 

[hockeykicker]

Could easily have a member of their staff do that.

But why would they need to? No reason to look at scores until you do your job and win in regulation. Watching other scores has no impact on the game they play

 

[LudwigVonKarlsson]

As a Sens fan, he is an expert on bad teams

That's rich.

 

[Artemi Panarin]

Mere seconds after Philadelphia was sent packing by Detroit, the Flyers inadvertently returned the favor and eliminated the Red Wings by giving Washington an empty netter with nothing on the line. To make matters worse, Detroit ended up winning a shootout against Montreal and would have qualified for the playoffs had Philadelphia come up with an overtime or shootout win against the Capitals.

Not gonna lie, this is pretty funny.

 

[LaP]

Did the flyers know they were eliminated? They have to win in regulation to have a shot at the playoffs.

In a case like that I would expect a professional franchise to have someone check the other game live and call the coach when the team is officially eliminated.

 

[Planetov]

Of course it did, if the WSH-PHI game was played 1 hour later the Flyers dont pull the goaltender and it goes to OT. So it was certainly gifted. Not the Flyers or WSH fault, just the stupid NHL rules. But it was a free gifted win, thats not even debatable!

This is satire, right? This has to be satire. You’re claiming scheduling (that happened 9 months prior) is the reason the Caps were “gifted” a win?

 

[HTFN]

This is satire, right? This has to be satire. You’re claiming scheduling (that happened 9 months prior) is the reason the Caps were “gifted” a win?

Even beyond that: we've learned so many times by now that any time a sport has two games with interdependent results it's healthier for the sport and much more ethical to play them at the same time.

It'd be even more bullshit if there were a scenario where two teams could both benefit from an OT point and played at 5pm, watched the 4pm games go their way, and just dumped the puck for 60 minutes and didn't really try so that they can both qualify... Disgrace of Gijón - Wikipedia

So not that it had any bearing here because the schedule was set forever ago, but even if it had, the only logical thing to do is play both games at once. This weenie wants a delayed start to make for a less competitive landscape so long as it hurts the team he doesn't like.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

In a case like that I would expect a professional franchise to have someone check the other game live and call the coach when the team is officially eliminated.

Yeah and if that person is in that moment texting their wife that they're picking up dinner on the way home and ask them if they want anything then that call might be delayed by 20-30 seconds and then maybe the coach is busy coaching the team and doesn't immediately pick up or check his screen and then that also is delayed by a few seconds. All kinds of vagaries can affect the time it takes to register the changed scenario, relay it to all involved parties and for those parties to take the required actions. It certainly may very easily take more than 60 seconds.

It's kinda asinine to even think about this given how short the time frame involved is. Philly does not owe the Wings a prioritization of the Wings' needs to that extent and I say that as a Wings fan.

 

[Rebels57]

Could easily have a member of their staff do that.

There was less than 5 minutes less in their own game and they were in desperation mode to score a goal or be eliminated. I would imagine their focus was solely on extending their own season and nothing else at that moment. They certainly didn't care about Detroits fate and even less about the Penguins. They found out from their video team just after the empty net goal by the Caps was scored. Shit happens, but Detroit and Pittsburgh have only themselves to blame for missing the Playoffs.

 

[Rebels57]

Why is this so hard to understand: The Flyers/Tortorella didn't know that until after the first empty net goal was scored. After that they pulled the goalie again, but that actually f***s Washington more than anyone else since Washington is now sitting on a regulation win and Philly is already eliminated.

So even if we accept (for some stupid reason) that Tortorella did this in error or out of spite, he also turned around and did it again to give the Wings a chance they wouldn't have had if the Flyers just packed it up after the 2-1 goal. If the Caps get taken to OT/SO then lose they wouldn't be in (far as I can tell), so Tortorella pulling the goalie down 2-1 is basically only to win the last game of the season and spoil the Caps' chances with the Flyers already out.

tl;dr even if you want to be mad about Tortorella pulling the goalie while tied you also have to recognize that pulling it while they're down only helps other teams, not Washington. He's paid to win his team's games, not help you with the results of yours.

Correct. After allowing the ENer, the Flyers then tried to tie it with the goalie pulled and then would presumably hope to still get a miraculous regulation win had they been able to tie it. They were still trying to win that game in regulation until the last second.

 

[LudwigVonKarlsson]

There was less than 5 minutes less in their own game and they were in desperation mode to score a goal or be eliminated. I would imagine their focus was solely on extending their own season and nothing else at that moment. They found out from their video team just after the empty net goal by the Caps was scored.

I'm well aware of that, but I was answering Hams question and letting him know that a member of their staff could have easily done that in that situation if they wanted to.

 

[HolyGhost]

you are mssing the point though, when they pulled their goalie, the Flyers were already mathematically eliminated from the playoffs due to Detroit going to OT

why is this so hard to understand?

and you just proved you have never played teams sports at a very high level and over looking a key thing many people are saying. Torts was doing everything he could to prevent the caps from getting any pts. Wings fan are pissed they paid the price for his crazy but I can defend what he did. Also, you are under the assumption that he was watching the game at the bench or something? Flyers were win in reg or lose in reg for the game..that is all that mattered. OT was not an option. They were hoping to take out Washington. They beat Washington in regulation? Wings fans are partying today but instead they are complaining. Washington knew they needed to win and if it went to OT--they would double down on the intensity. Flyers would be playing for nothing and players may have taken their foot off the gas and let the hyper Caps win anyway. But, they had their foot on the gas while the goal was empty and many wings fans are over looking that because it failed. If it had not failed? Torts would be a hero today

 

[Number 57]

Do you think the Flyers are watching the box scores while in the middle of a f***ing game?

The Wings were. But I guess that's just beyond Tortorella's and his assistants' ability

 

[HTFN]

The Wings were. But I guess that's just beyond Tortorella's and his assistants' ability

The Wings also had two periods of play end (end of 3rd, end of OT) to learn and spread that information.

People pointing out that they knew by the shootout are kind of missing the big stretches with no hockey going on to make that happen and suggesting Tortorella should get that information in a.) under a minute and b.) just give up as a result instead of still trying to do the only thing that gets his team into the playoffs

Like... if they did their job anyway and won in regulation instead of losing at least he can say to the room "we did our job, it just didn't break our way" when they do learn about Detroit. There's simply no reason to consider it at all in the moment.

 

[Number 57]

The Wings also had two periods of play end (end of 3rd, end of OT) to learn and spread that information.

People pointing out that they knew by the shootout are kind of missing the big stretches with no hockey going on to make that happen and suggesting Tortorella should get that information in a.) under a minute and b.) just give up as a result instead of still trying to do the only thing that gets his team into the playoffs

Like... if they did their job anyway and won in regulation instead of losing at least he can say to the room "we did our job, it just didn't break our way" when they do learn about Detroit. There's simply no reason to consider it at all in the moment.

Everyone knew every scenarios possible before the start of that evening's games. They knew they had to watch Detroit's game for results, because it had big impact on their decisions (i.e. pulling the goalie). It's not rocket science here. The scenarios were all laid out in advance. It was not a last minute thing.

They have multiple assistants behind the bench and in the backrooms, and they can communicate with the earpiece. Before the pulling the goalie, they had to check on Detroit's game.

This is the NHL, not some house league. They have means.

 

[Ace]

I wish he had done it on purpose. This thread has put a spotlight on how much Detroit fans deserved it

 

[HTFN]

Everyone knew every scenarios possible before the start of that evening's games. They knew they had to watch Detroit's game for results, because it had big impact on their decisions (i.e. pulling the goalie). It's not rocket science here. The scenarios were all laid out in advance. It was not a last minute thing.

They have multiple assistants behind the bench and in the backrooms, and they can communicate with the earpiece. Before the pulling the goalie, they had to check on Detroit's game.

This is the NHL, not some house league. They have means.

Again: what does it matter to the Flyers? Ignoring for a moment (again) that Tortorella didn't know until it was too late... even if he did what would it matter? Does he tell the whole bench "alright we're f***ed, let's pack it up"?

Or do they just play their game anyway and try to go out strong, achieving what they set out to do and at least winning the game?

The team Tortorella showed the most direct contempt for was actually Washington, pulling the goalie down 2-1 when they needed two goals to win in regulation while only one is required to force OT to play spoiler.

 

[ovikovy817]

20+ pages for nothing. People these days

You think Torts is a geek watching both games on 2 screens with a beer in hand on his couch.?
He's only focused on his team doing what best for them.

 

[Rpenny]

Torts wanted to beat the caps at all cost. He was hoping to deny them any points and failed. It happens. Wings paid the price for gamble but that is life. Like MANY other have said. IF they had scored? How would Detroit feel today?

 

[kicksavedave]

With that said, it's not a great look for the NHL, and when they realized the possibility that it would play out like that they probably should have staggered the game starts. If you start the Wings/MTL at 7 and Wash/Phi at 730 everyone would likely know where the Wings stood prior to when they would have pulled the goalie.

This is one of the dumbest ideas in a thread full of dumbness. Why on earth would the league go out of its way and reschedule games, just to make things convenient for the Detroit Red Wings? Why not make things convenient for the Philadelphia Flyers, or Washington Capitals instead? How is any of that remotely reasonable, to pick a team to make a convenience for? Specifically to make a single game strategy decision by Torts no longer meaningful. This thought process only exists in HF fans brains, not in any real world run by professionals.

How's this: Make the Wings game start when the Caps/Flyers game is completely over, since the only team that controlled their destiny was the Caps? Caps win, then the Wings can mail it in. Caps lose in OT or regulation, then the Wings have a chance and a reason to play hard. Yeah, this is still stupid.

Here's a better idea... everyone just plays to win the game, and the chips all fall where they fall. Torts needed to win in regulation to have any chance. He also needed to win in regulation to eliminate the Caps. So regardless of what happened in Detroit, Torts wants to eliminate the Caps with a regulation win, which may easily explain why he pulled the goalie without checking with Wings fans first to see if it was OK.

 

[CupofOil]

Do you think the Flyers are watching the box scores while in the middle of a f***ing game?

They have video guys that are keeping tabs on what's going on in other games. This is 2024, you don't need to wait to see a box score to find out the result of a game.

With the importance of the Red Wings game to the Flyers hopes, I'm pretty sure that somebody on the Flyers staff knew the result immediately
I'd bet anything that they knew that the Wings got the point and that Tortorella like the stubborn man he is stuck to the plan regardless, with a little side dish of screwing the hated Pens in the process.

 

[OurlordAndSaviorKuch]

I would be pissed but this is a very Torts like thing to do.

 

[Pancakes]

Maybe Detroit should have tried not losing 7 games in a row instead of complaining about whatever Philly is doing