Flyers' John Tortorella on his criticism of team: 'If people can’t handle it, so be it'

To no one's surprise, Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella doesn't care what anyone thinks about his coaching methods.

Just two days after calling his team's effort "soft" after an overtime loss to the New York Islanders, Tortorella made it clear that he doesn't regret anything he said. In fact, he thinks brutal honesty can be part of a healthy team.

"Everybody gets freaked out around us sometimes when there is some truth said or honesty brought out," Tortorella said Wednesday. "I think it's so healthy because there is no agenda. I think that's so important for a locker room."

As far as the outside criticism to his public frustration with the team, Tortorella admitted that's his way of showing the players they are better than what they've shown recently, and he is not worried about the outside noise.

"I haven't done a good enough job to make them understand we have to be different now," Tortorella said. "We have to be at a different level, that's my frustration with me, and that's my frustration with the team. And if people can't handle it, so be it."

After Monday's loss to the Islanders, Philadelphia is 36-29-11 and sits third in the Metropolitan Division, just one point ahead of the fourth-place Washington Capitals.

The Flyers are in danger of falling out of a playoff spot as the Capitals cling to the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Detroit Red Wings and Islanders right on the heels. All three teams also have a games-remaining advantage on the Flyers.

With the Flyers on a five-game losing streak and his public criticism of the team, speculation of Tortorella losing the locker room has once again reared its head.

It's nothing new for the outspoken coach, and he remains unbothered.

"It comes down to, Oh, they're going to quit on him. It follows me around, and so be it," he said. "If a player is going to quit on me, or players are going to quit on me because I'm trying to make them better people or better athletes, you've got the wrong damn coach here, and you've got the wrong damn people here."

The Flyers' next chance to get things back on track comes Friday against the Buffalo Sabres.