Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella will make history when he steps behind the bench Saturday.
The contest against the New Jersey Devils will make him the first American-born bench boss to coach 1,000 regular-season games, an achievement he credits to the many chances he's been given over the years.
"I'm very fortunate in having some people around me who have given me the opportunities that I've been given, where some very good coaches have not been given the chance," Tortorella told the Blue Jackets' official website, according to NHL.com's Craig Merz.
"A thousand games means you been given chances. People have entrusted you with their teams, and obviously I've been around some really good people to be involved in so many games."
Tortorella was given such a chance this season, when the Blue Jackets named him head coach after firing Todd Richards due to the team's brutal 0-7 start to the season.
Things haven't panned out very well for the Blue Jackets so far, however, as the team holds the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.
"I know people don't want to hear it because they've heard it for a number of years here, but we're going through a process with the team," he said. "The amount of teaching that goes into this is what grabs you. I think it's going to be fun."
Tortorella has a Stanley Cup and a Jack Adams Trophy to his name, and will have 475 career victories with a win Saturday.
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