Round 1: (A2) Tampa Bay vs. (A3) Montreal

[GhostofPotvin29]

A weak PP call for Montreal, in Montreal, with 2:00 left in a tie game?  Wow, never saw that one coming.

I'm usually not one to complain a lot about the refs, but that's I'm thinking as well... just did not seem like an appropriate call.

And maybe you call that normally, but not after you've just let 5 or 6 infractions go in the 20 seconds before that.  Why that one?  Baffling.

 

[Jalili]

Yeah it's the timing of the call that makes it so questionable. Right before OT? C'mon.

Maybe the refs let the crowd get in their heads? The fans seem to boo every call or non-call that doesn't go the Habs' way.

 

[bustaheims]

FWIW, 13 of the last 21 teams to register a sweep in the first round were eliminated in the 2nd.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Maybe the refs let the crowd get in their heads? The fans seem to boo every call or non-call that doesn't go the Habs' way.

The ref who made the call was from Quebec too. I'm sure the NHL is convinced none of their referees would ever play favourites, but they have a fairly large pool of refs to pick from right now. Why even open yourself up to possible criticism by assigning him this game?

 

[Derk]

I am shocked, SHOCKED that Montreal got a favourable weak call in the last two minutes of a tie game on home ice...

 

[hockeyfan1]

Oh, how woeful Tampa Bay.  If Bishop had been in net for them, it's doubtful the Habs would have swept this series so easily. 

Also, what if the Lightning had still had Martin St. Louis.  It would have helped to take the heat off Stamkos plus being an extra threat offensively.  Maybe having St. Louis might not have made a difference, bot I'd like to believe that it might
have had an effeot somewhat.

 

[Stickytape]

Tampa got robbed.  It's not like they were going to win the series or anything, but that's a hell of a way to go out.  That 8th pick is looking pretty good right now..

 

[Derk]

On a related issue, Ron MacLean is in a bit of hot water over some comments about French Canadian referees:

CBC link

Sounds like he was trying to say that having a referee from Quebec for Game 4 in Montreal's home rink would be bad optics given the controversial call from a referee from Quebec in Game 3 in Montreal's home rink.

I didn't watch last night's game, so I don't know if said referee was the one who made the penalty call with two minutes left in the 3rd.

 

[Kessel Run]

Yeah it's the timing of the call that makes it so questionable. Right before OT? C'mon.

Maybe the refs let the crowd get in their heads? The fans seem to boo every call or non-call that doesn't go the Habs' way.

They were booing every single microscopic thing that was not called for a penalty, perhaps he was influenced or pressured by the crowd a little bit.

 

[LittleHockeyFan]

quel surpris. the officiating paid by the Bank of Montreal for the third straight game.......

 

[Manson]

Montreal in 4 or 5...this is gonna be a breeze

Bam

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Vanek workin' on that UFA payday:

@reporterchris

Thomas Vanek is clearly in #habs doghouse. Asked about him, Michel Therrien said: "Work ethic is not negotiable."