New York Rangers coach John Tortorella apologized Wednesday for criticizing the referees following the team's 3-2 Winter Classic win in Philadelphia on Monday.
Before taking any questions from reporters following the Rangers' practice, Tortorella requested the chance to apologize for his comments, in which he described the officiating as "disgusting," and implied that the league and television network wanted the game to go to overtime.
"My tongue-in-cheek comments regarding NBC, the league, the refs, as far as what's come about here, people thinking was it fixed, are you trying to get it to overtime or that type of thinking, that was not even in my mind," Tortorella said. "Not for a second, no time, shape or form did I think anything like that goes on with our league or ever will.
"It was wrong with my sarcasm, with my frustration, and I apologize to everyone involved. It was not my intent. I certainly handled it the wrong way, especially to the two refs."
Tortorella was upset that the Flyers were awarded a penalty shot with 19.6 seconds to go. Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist stopped Philadelphia's Daniel Briere, preserving the 3-2 victory.
Tortorella said he spoke with NHL VP of Operations, Colin Campbell, on Tuesday and would speak with him again later Wednesday regarding the incident.
Tortorella, who said he "tainted the Classic with [his] mouth," also said that he apologized to Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren and will do the same with the referees, Ian Walsh and Dennis LaRue, when he sees them in person.
"Using the word disgusting, I don't think was the proper way to go about it talking about Dennis and Ian," Tortorella said. "I was wrong there. I've known them for a long time and they do a great job. I screwed up with my mouth at the end and I regret it and I apologize to those who were involved."
