It takes a lot for a NHL coach to get tossed from a game. They say and do a lot of things that probably wouldn’t go over well at the dinner table at home. Sometimes it gets bad enough that they’ll get a bench minor for it. Other times, when the referee has had enough, the coach will get the both.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice actually managed to get both Thursday night just before the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Maurice was first angered by the refs in the second period when a pair of questionable hits against his players went without penalties to the Lightning. One of those hits left forward Bryan Little injured and unavailable for the third period. 

The Jets head coach was incensed on the bench at the lack of penalties and unloaded on the referees for it. That drew the bench minor.

With the Jets trailing 3-1 heading into the final frame and Maurice still fuming over the lack of calls, so he went right back at the refs when the teams came out for the third period. Then he and referee Francois St. Laurent apparently got into a bit of a staredown. Maurice shared a few more angry words and the ref finally had enough and gave Maurice the boot.

After all of that, the Jets gave up a quick goal to Alex Killorn of the Lightning to fall behind 4-1. Then a funny thing happened, Winnipeg went on an absolute tear over 6:43 of clock time.

The Jets scored three straight goals to tie the game 4-4 after an uninspiring first 40 minutes. Somewhere, Lou Piniella is smiling. That's what the ol' baseball manager would call an effective ejection.

The Jets ended up losing in a shootout to the Lightning for a 6-5 final, but there's no doubt they had some extra fire in the third period.

Paul Maurice let the referees have it over some missed calls. (Sportsnet)
Paul Maurice let the referees have it over some missed calls. (Sportsnet)