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PHT’s top 14 of ’14: Canucks and Flames brawl, followed by Torts losing his mind

Calgary Flames v Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 18: A line brawl between the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames broke out at the start of their NHL game at Rogers Arena January 18, 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

A lot of people forget that, with just one win in their previous nine games, the Vancouver Canucks had already started their death spiral prior to Jan. 18’s line brawl with the Calgary Flames.

A lot of people also forget that the Canucks actually went on to win that game. A rarity for them in 2013-14, their worst season since 1999-00.

That being said, if there’s one act from the brief, disastrous John Tortorella era in Vancouver that will live on in infamy, it will be the fiery bench boss’s attempt to charge the Flames’ dressing room in order to confront his old friend, Calgary coach Bob Hartley.

For that, Tortorella was handed a 15-day suspension by the NHL, which deemed his actions “both dangerous and an embarrassment to the league.”

After Tortorella’s ban was over, the Canucks proceeded to win just nine of their final 26 games, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

He was fired on May 1.