劲爆大瓜

MONTREAL 鈥� Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was at a loss for words in describing the message he wants to convey to his team after its 5-2 loss in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series with the Washington Capitals.

One thing was ultra clear, however: his dissatisfaction with the officiating throughout the course of Sunday鈥檚 game, that left the hosts in a 3-1 hole with Game 5 on Wednesday at Capital One Arena.

鈥淚鈥檒l be careful with my words, but it鈥檚 hard to watch some of these calls,鈥� said St. Louis. 鈥淭onight, the mandate was about embellishing. Kent (Hughes, Montreal鈥檚 general manager) talks with the supervisor each game day. We are told the things they want to clean up. Embellishment was one of them.鈥�

Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes also did not mince words when it came to the work of referees Dan O鈥橰ourke and Frederick L鈥橢cuyer.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to point fingers,鈥� said Dobes. 鈥淚 never, ever do that. As a hockey player, I鈥檝e never ever done it. I don鈥檛 want to be specific about who could be better. I just hope we don鈥檛 get these referees in Washington, that鈥檚 it. I鈥檓 not going to point fingers.鈥�

With under two minutes to play in the second period, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin appeared to make contact with the head of Canadiens centre Jake Evans as he entered the offensive zone. Ovechkin was assessed only a two-minute minor penalty for interference on the play. While Cole Caufield would score Montreal鈥檚 second power-play goal on the ensuing penalty, it was not nearly enough in the eyes of Dobes.

鈥淚 seriously don鈥檛 understand why it happened,鈥� said Dobes. 鈥淚 feel like the game was pretty much over when Ovi (Ovechkin) took a hit on Jake. I think it was at least (worth) a suspension for a game, but I guess not.

"I don鈥檛 have answers for you guys. I have to watch it again, but it鈥檚 just unfortunate because you don鈥檛 want to see one of our better players skating around the ice concussed. It was just a weird game today, I guess.鈥�

While Evans was able to finish the game, the same could not be said for Canadiens defenceman Alexandre Carrier. The blueliner was also the victim of a hard hit up high, courtesy of Capitals forward Tom Wilson in the third period, causing the 28-year-old to fall against the boards.

As Carrier slowly made his way across the ice toward the Canadiens鈥� bench, the Capitals鈥� Brandon Duhaime took advantage of a bouncing puck that eluded Montreal鈥檚 Mike Matheson and Dobes to tie the game at 2-2.

鈥淚 was ready for the first shot,鈥� said Dobes. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know what happened. I feel like it hit Cole (Caufield) and bounced over my pad or something like that. It鈥檚 whatever, hockey, I guess.

"I felt like it鈥檚 going to be a whistle because they were in their defensive zone and far away, but I guess I don鈥檛 really know the rules. I feel like it should have been a whistle. It was kind of a scary hit, but I guess the rules don鈥檛 apply for everyone in this league. I have no idea.鈥�

It marked the second time Carrier was forced to leave the game for Montreal during Game 4. The Quebec City native narrowly evaded a hit from Ovechkin along the far end of the Canadiens鈥� bench in the first period. Nevertheless, the near-collision left Carrier shaken up. He would retreat to the team locker room, but was back on the ice for the start of the second frame.

St. Louis had no further update on Carrier鈥檚 status post-game.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a warrior,鈥� said St. Louis. 鈥淗e鈥檚 consistent. You know exactly what you are going to get. It鈥檚 hard to see him go out on a play like that.鈥�

Despite their frustration and injury woes, both Dobes and St. Louis are turning their sights to a pivotal Game 5 back in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. With Montreal one loss away from elimination, there is no margin for error.

鈥淲e've got to win at least one in Washington, right?鈥� said Dobes. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how we qualify for the next round. I feel like it鈥檚 an opportunity.

"From my point of view, I don鈥檛 take it as a negative, it鈥檚 an experience. We鈥檒l learn from it. We have so many young players. The more games we get, the sooner the better for us. I鈥檓 excited for a trip to Washington.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 a resilient group,鈥� said St. Louis. 鈥淲e know we have to win a game in Washington. We鈥檙e going to do that and extend the series. We have a really confident group. We鈥檙e going to continue.鈥�

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27, 2025.

Jordan Stoopler, The Canadian Press