Rangers' Tortorella Fires Back At 'Classless' Comments, Says Joe Thornton Should 'Shut Up'

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- We were beginning to wonder when the Rangers would respond to the bulletin board material fired off by San Jose Sharks captain Joe Thornton.

After the Rangers' first home win of the season on Monday night, Thornton said the Sharks "should have had those two points."

Why?

Because New York, the center said, was "probably the softest team we played on the trip."

"Joe said that?" Rangers coach John Tortorella said following the 5-2 victory. "Wonderful."

After some time to mull over it, the outspoken coach regained his usual form and fired back.

"Joe's a heck of a player, but here's a player popping off about our team, and Joe hasn't won a (dang) thing in this league," Tortorella charged after Tuesday's practice, according to NHL.com.

"He could go down as a player, being one of the better players in our league never to win anything," he added. "So what he should do is just shut up. It was uncalled for, it was classless, and I've never had it happen like that before."

Thornton will have to wait to answer Tortorella on the ice. The Rangers and Sharks won't face off again in the 2011-12 regular season.

Was Torts too harsh on Thornton? Sound off in the comments below...