Colin Campbell: Tortorella's rant 'unprofessional' and 'unacceptable'

NHL director of hockey operations Colin Campbell was not amused by John Tortorella's postgame tirade.

Campbell called Tortorella's comments "unprofessional" and "unacceptable" after the Columbus Blue Jackets head coach heavily criticized on-ice officials and the league's replay crew in Toronto for an apparent clock error that cost Columbus an overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday.

"The whistle is blown at 19.2 (seconds) on the clock," Tortorella said. "For some reason, the clock is run down a second-and-a-tenth to 18.1. For whatever reason, I have no goddamn idea. So instead of resetting the clock, we have them tell our captain 'we're not going to do it.'"

Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski scored what would have been the game-winning goal just after time expired in the extra frame, and starting goalie Joonas Korpisalo suffered a non-contact injury in the subsequent shootout as Columbus lost 3-2.

"Toronto doesn't step in, refs don't do their freaking job, and now we lose the game and we lose our goalie," Tortorella continued.

Campbell explained why time was not re-added to the clock after officials assessed the Blackhawks a too-many-men penalty in overtime, saying referees took advantage of the Blue Jackets' ensuing time-out call to thoroughly review the play:

Per Colin Campbell, NHL director of hockey ops, a lengthy explanation about why time wasn't added back on the clock after the #Blackhawks too many men penalty in OT last night plus a chastising statement about Tortorella's postgame comments -> pic.twitter.com/UAB49TxgM2

- Brian Hedger (@BrianHedger) December 30, 2019

Tortorella apologized for his remarks Monday, admitting he showed a lack of discipline by airing his frustrations publicly rather than addressing the situation in private, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline.

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