I wish Gulutzan would ask Tortorella for advice more. (Or get replaced by his old boss, because it'd be funny)
The following tale is from a book called "Behind the Bench" by Craig Custance about some of the best bench bosses in the business, I highly recommend it.
Penguins had just lost Game 5 against the Sharks at home, with the chance to take the Cup at home squandered. Sullivan is worried about the massive momentum swing that San Jose was taking home to SAP Center.
He calls Torty, who matter of factly has no doubt.
Quote:
Tortorella shared his advice with Sullivan during that phone conversation.
"When you get on that plane today, you'd better have your chest puffed out and be as confident as you can be," he said. "They're taking cues off you today. Is it going to be panic by the coaches? Or is it going to be, '#### it. Let's just go down there and get it down. We know we're better. We know we played better.'"
Tortorella closed the conversation with Sullivan by predicting the series was going to end in San Jose. He had no doubt.
"It wasn't even close," Tortorella said. "The score was close but it wasn't really close."
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