My first post since the end of November, so credit the Calgary coaching staff and fourth line for at least getting my attention.
While the opinion of many coaches and players from other teams was that Tortorella had to put out his fourth line in response, there seems to be no one defending his over-the-top overreaction to it (i.e. screaming between the benches and trying to get in the Flames room).
For example, Carlyle was asked to comment. He wouldn't say much on the brawl itself, but he did say this:
“Our job as a coaching staff is to remain calm and be the peacekeeper ... don’t add fuel the fire,” Carlyle said.
“It’s important for players to understand that as a coaching staff, you are there to keep the peace. I get it, I get the heat of the battle and emotions running high. We all make decisions we’d like to take back, the heat of the moment-type thing.”
http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/...o_himself.html
I think Tortorella "broke the code" here by trying to start an incident with the Flames coaches. For that more than anything, he will get suspended and fined.