Tortorella: 'A little frustrated' I couldn't get Flyers into playoffs

Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella looked inward after his team fell just short of the playoffs during his second season at the helm.

"I'm a little frustrated that I couldn't get the team to close the deal," he told reporters Friday. "That's what we wanted to do. It was a concern of mine with 25 games left or so in the season, 'Can we stay with it?' I think it's my job to get it to the end.

"I think the team played hard right to the end. I just didn't close the deal. ... So that's something that I've got to evaluate over the summer. Could I have done some things differently?"

The Flyers were battling for a playoff spot for most of the campaign but suffered an untimely eight-game losing streak, with five losses coming against teams outside the postseason picture.

Despite the disappointing finish, Philadelphia surpassed preseason expectations, and Tortorella said the experience has given the team "a good footing" for the future.

But the Flyers aren't there just yet.

"We are a ways away," Tortorella said while defending general manager Danny Briere's decision to prioritize the future at the trade deadline. "We have so much work to do with this team."

He added: "I think we still need to add talent to our team. There's no question on that."

The hard-nosed bench boss also reaffirmed his commitment to the team following reports that Philadelphia wants him back next season.

Though other changes may be coming to the Flyers, Tortorella made it clear that his coaching style won't be one of them.

"You got the wrong coach here if we're gonna be hugging like, 'We're here guys, we played a lousy period and a half there, but it's OK,'" he said. "You're not getting that from me, ever. Those are the decisions management has to make if they think I made a mistake and they show me the door. So be it.

"I'm not coming off of that because that's how you build a hockey team."

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