What Theo does for this team

Goaltending rankles Tortorella
Compiled by Phil Coffey
NHL.com | Dec. 30, 2005

Tampa Bay Lightning coach John Tortorella is no shrinking violet. Everybody knows where they stand with Tortorella, a demanding presence behind the bench, to be sure.

He doesn't cajole or make excuses for his players. He demands accountability from everyone in the organization. And he has certainly produced enough results to make a case that "tough love" works.

Goaltender John Grahame, recently named to the United States Olympic hockey team, felt the sting of Tortorella's tough love this week after a 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Tortorella was very unhappy with the goalie's play and didn't mince words.

"Eighteen scoring chances to 10, we can't have four goals in our net on 10 chances," Tortorella told reporters after the loss, pounding on the podium and offering some more colorful phrasing than we will relate here. "Especially the fourth goal, it can't happen. I'm (more than mildly annoyed, but you get the idea) at what's happening there because I thought our team played very well tonight.

"And this has gone on for quite a while."

So, veteran Sean Burke will get some time in goal while Grahame contemplates his game and the hot breath on the back of his neck.

"I hope he plays well," Tortorella said of Burke. "If he plays well, he's going to go again.

"I'm not up here trying to rip anybody apart. Let's be honest about what's going on here, and it's getting old. We're going nowhere until that situation is straightened out."

....the part in bold is what i wanted you all to see. Theodore faces 44+ shots and 18 scoring chances and surrenders only 3. Grahame faces 30- shots 10 scoring chances and lets in 4. This is what some of you are willing to have to get rid of theodore...I.E. Fernedez or Roloson...Im not going to stop defending theo...the guy means ALOT more to this team than alot of you think. Sorta like the brisebois thing. And i stood up for him too. Im sure theo could win the MVP and Vezina again and you still wouldnt be happy with his play. Just understand thing and please some of you just ADMIT it....Our team is BETTER WITH than WITHOUT Theo. no Huet, no Danis, no Price....NO BERTUZZI.