Joe Sacco defends Bruins after John Tortorella’s ‘dive’ comments

"That’s not our team and that’s not how we play."

Joe Sacco and the Bruins are heading on the road for a five-game trek to Western Canada. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

December 9, 2024

2 minutes to read

Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco did not take kindly to Flyers coach John Tortorella’s comments following Saturday’s overtime win over Philadelphia.

After the Bruins’ 4-3 win over the Flyers, Tortorella opened his postgame presser by calling out the officiating and the Bruins for the number of calls that went in Boston’s favor.

“Yeah, let me start. One thing I teach my team to do is not dive,” Tortorella said. “Maybe I should start teaching them that, the way this has gone here, the way this [expletive] goes on, maybe I should start teaching them how to dive.”

"One thing I teach my team to do is not dive. Maybe I should start teaching them that."

John Tortorella didn't hold back in his post game presser about the calls in the Flyers/Bruins game. pic.twitter.com/rdOBSoO4e9
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 8, 2024

The Flyers were whistled for eight total penalties in Saturday’s game, compared to four on the Bruins.

Three of those infractions for the Flyers were for trips, with Tortorella visibly irate after Garnet Hathway was whistled midway through the third period after Mason Lohrei appeared to lose his footing on the ice.

Sean Couturier was also called for a trip against David Pastrnak with just 1:57 left in regulation and the score tied at 2-2. Boston ultimately didn’t make the Flyers pay despite their several stints in the sin bin — with the Bruins only converting on one power-play bid in the eventual win.

“That’s one of the things we talk most about. We have to play an honest game. There’s no cheating, no embarrassing referees,” Tortorella said. “The [expletive] that went on here tonight was just ridiculous. I’m proud of the way our team played. Did we piss another one away? Yeah, but other people had a little bit to do with that also.”

Sacco responded to Tortorella’s comments following Monday’s practice at Warrior Ice Arena.

“That’s not our group,” Sacco said. “That’s not our team and that’s not how we play. That’s how I respond to that. That’s not what we’re about.”

The Bruins were also not thrilled with some of the Flyers’ actions in a chippy game, with Charlie McAvoy angry with rookie Matvei Michkov after the winger hit the ice following some contact with his stick.

After play stopped, McAvoy went back over and pushed Michkov to the ice — ultimately earning both a tripping penalty and a roughing call after getting into a scrap with Flyers forward Owen Tippett.

The Bruins and Flyers will not have a chance to settle their differences for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, with Saturday marking the final meeting between teams this year.