Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was puzzled in describing the message he desires to convey to his workforce after its 5-2 loss in Recreation 4 of their first-round playoff sequence with the Washington Capitals.
One factor was extremely clear, nevertheless: his dissatisfaction with the officiating all through the course of Sunday’s recreation, that left the hosts in a 3-1 gap with Recreation 5 on Wednesday at Capital One Area.
“I’ll watch out with my phrases, but it surely’s arduous to look at a few of these calls,” stated St. Louis. “Tonight, the mandate was about embellishing. Kent (Hughes, Montreal’s normal supervisor) talks with the supervisor every recreation day. We’re advised the issues they wish to clear up. Embellishment was one among them.”
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes additionally didn’t mince phrases when it got here to the work of referees Dan O’Rourke and Frederick L’Ecuyer.
“I don’t wish to level fingers,” stated Dobes. “I by no means, ever do this. As a hockey participant, I’ve by no means ever finished it. I don’t wish to be particular about who could possibly be higher. I simply hope we don’t get these referees in Washington, that’s it. I’m not going to level fingers.”
With below two minutes to play within the second interval, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin appeared to make contact with the top of Canadiens centre Jake Evans as he entered the offensive zone. Ovechkin was assessed solely a two-minute minor penalty for interference on the play. Whereas Cole Caufield would rating Montreal’s second power-play aim on the following penalty, it was not almost sufficient within the eyes of Dobes.
“I severely don’t perceive why it occurred,” stated Dobes. “I really feel like the sport was just about over when Ovi (Ovechkin) took a success on Jake. I feel it was at the least (price) a suspension for a recreation, however I assume not.
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“I don’t have solutions for you guys. I’ve to look at it once more, but it surely’s simply unlucky since you don’t wish to see one among our higher gamers skating across the ice concussed. It was only a bizarre recreation right this moment, I assume.”
Whereas Evans was in a position to end the sport, the identical couldn’t be stated for Canadiens defenceman Alexandre Provider. The blueliner was additionally the sufferer of a tough hit up excessive, courtesy of Capitals ahead Tom Wilson within the third interval, inflicting the 28-year-old to fall towards the boards.
As Provider slowly made his approach throughout the ice towards the Canadiens’ bench, the Capitals’ Brandon Duhaime took benefit of a bouncing puck that eluded Montreal’s Mike Matheson and Dobes to tie the sport at 2-2.
“I used to be prepared for the primary shot,” stated Dobes. “I don’t even know what occurred. I really feel prefer it hit Cole (Caufield) and bounced over my pad or one thing like that. It’s no matter, hockey, I assume.
“I felt prefer it’s going to be a whistle as a result of they had been of their defensive zone and much away, however I assume I don’t actually know the foundations. I really feel prefer it ought to have been a whistle. It was sort of a scary hit, however I assume the foundations don’t apply for everybody on this league. I don’t know.”
It marked the second time Provider was compelled to depart the sport for Montreal throughout Recreation 4. The Quebec Metropolis native narrowly evaded a success from Ovechkin alongside the far finish of the Canadiens’ bench within the first interval. Nonetheless, the near-collision left Provider shaken up. He would retreat to the workforce locker room, however was again on the ice for the beginning of the second body.
St. Louis had no additional replace on Provider’s standing post-game.
“He’s a warrior,” stated St. Louis. “He’s constant. You realize precisely what you’re going to get. It’s arduous to see him exit on a play like that.”
Regardless of their frustration and damage woes, each Dobes and St. Louis are turning their sights to a pivotal Recreation 5 again in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. With Montreal one loss away from elimination, there isn’t a margin for error.
“We’ve acquired to win at the least one in Washington, proper?” stated Dobes. “That’s how we qualify for the following spherical. I really feel prefer it’s a chance.
“From my standpoint, I don’t take it as a adverse, it’s an expertise. We’ll study from it. We’ve so many younger gamers. The extra video games we get, the earlier the higher for us. I’m excited for a visit to Washington.”
“It’s a resilient group,” stated St. Louis. “We all know we’ve to win a recreation in Washington. We’re going to try this and prolong the sequence. We’ve a very assured group. We’re going to proceed.”
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