Once again, pardon our French ...
Looks like Montreal coach Guy Carbonneau is suggesting that the officials have turned against the Canadiens. The reporter from the La Presse describes Carbonneau as being vague in his comments, but this seems pretty clear to us (thanks again to a friend of the blog for the translation):
"I'm not saying we didn't merit any of our penalties. But we're a faster team, and there were some players and sticks that were held. If the penalties had been given, the result would have been to our advantage."
Carbonneau did go on to praise Martin Biron: "Biron is at the top of his game at the moment. Whether he's lucky, good or really good, he's making some saves that seemed silly."
If you think the media is tough in Philly, check out this from La Presse columnist François Gagnon:
"Alex Kovalev continued to play as the invisible man yesterday; Christopher Higgins was without doubt in uniform, but we haven't seen him since Wednesday's game; and Mark Streit, Mike Komisarek, Andrei Markov and others who aren't playing at the high level that they showed us during the regular season.
"Add to that a Michael Ryder who was throwing paper airplanes at the press box while his team was losing -- not smart enough to understand that he's making penance -- and you have there all the parameters to conclude that the Canadiens have one skate on the beach and the other on the golf courses."
In other news, both teams have the day off today with the extra day in between games. The Habs flew back to Montreal after the game. Carbonneau is scheduled to have a conference call with reporters later this afternoon. Flyers coach John Stevens wanted to keep his players away from the rink for the day. There are conference calls scheduled with Martin Biron and Danny Briere.
Rich Hofmann has been at the Daily News since 1980. He previously blogged the Eagles' postseason run in 2006. 
Ed Barkowitz was the first Philadelphia Newspaper journalist to write a blog, starting back in 2002.
Comments (14)
What is there to say? Carbonneau has already pushed the panic button by not giving Price the start in game 4. He has been guilty of saying unprofessional things in the press and his club has been really getting the benefit of most of the calls. He has to play the ref card now - what else is left short of him dressing for the game himself? He has basically said the Biron is channeling his old Dallas mate, Ed Belfour, and the Habs have played a very good series. As fan, everyone knows the close out game is the toughest. I hope that Stevens' club is ready and focused and won't get over confident. The Flyers drive and determination have been second only to Biron's sheer brilliant and timely play. Let's Go Flyers!
Posted by MEB#16 | May 1, 2008 1:58 PM
That one writer is correct about some of those players. You never notice them. Kovalev used to kill the flyers when he was on the penguins.
Posted by Bob | May 1, 2008 2:07 PM
Ask Carbo about Richards boarding penalty ...please
Posted by Hab-Knots | May 1, 2008 2:11 PM
How about the knee-to-knee check on Umberger that was not called? Does Carbonneau remember that had the imaginary Richards kneeing penalty not been called in game 1 the Habs would have lost that game? The Habs would have been swept last night.
I love the "we're outplaying you because we have more shots on goal" mindset all the Canadiens fans are using too. They don't realize that we Flyers fans used that excuse all through the 90's...
Posted by Jesse | May 1, 2008 2:25 PM
Please, there is no crying in hockey. Shut your yap and play!
Posted by Ed B. | May 1, 2008 2:29 PM
It must suck to be so heavily favored and be getting it handed to you......I smell some smoke coming down on a Northern breeze...anyone else smell that??
Posted by Hab-Knots | May 1, 2008 2:44 PM
Guy's Habs are getting their fare share of karma these days - and that's fine. The game can change so quickly though (as anyone who has been watching the Flyers playoff run can see) and to count the Habs out yet is premature. Nothing wrong with being humble and hungry. I 100% agree with the post about the Flyers fans using the "out shooting" excuse for years of play off disappointment. This Flyers squad is speedy and resilient like the Buffalo club that ousted the Flyers from the playoffs not-so-many years ago. I would simply hate to be "over" confident and experience the type of "choking situation" that Assistant Coach Terry Murray knows all-to-well. Saturday night will be a bear of a match- I know the Flyers will come to play - I just need them to come to win. Go Flyers!
Posted by Matt#16 | May 1, 2008 3:06 PM
I clicked the link to read the article by Gagnon, but it's in Canadian (I'm not a frog). Can I get the whole thing in Philadelphian???
Posted by Scott | May 1, 2008 3:06 PM
There is a long way to go no doubt....
Posted by Hab-Knots | May 1, 2008 3:34 PM
The Kapanen penalty was the right call. It was well after he played the puck and it was a deliberate attempt to injure him by driving him into the corner of the open door. It would have been a fiver and a game misconduct if it was a Flyer.
The Habs have no self-respect. They need to stop making excuses, even if they're "vague." They didn't show up to play this series, and now they've paid for it with 3 straight losses. Deal with it.
Posted by Brian | May 1, 2008 3:45 PM
Scott. Something tells me you're one of those idiots that booed the Canadian anthem, and probably started chanting USA. Some American hockey fans kill me.
Posted by Rob | May 1, 2008 4:48 PM
Rob- something tells me you can't detect sarcasm. And no, booing the Canadian National Anthem is not right, but it's not like those "great" Canadian fans aren't booing ours.
Posted by JT | May 1, 2008 5:19 PM
If you're going to blame america for a few fans booing the National Anthem, you Not only have to accept the blame for your fans doing the same thing in game 2, you also have to accept the blame for the riots after round 1. A-holes and Idiots are not Nation specific.
Posted by flyler | May 1, 2008 6:25 PM
using the term "frog" is not sarcasm. Let's get that straight. I don't re-call hearing chants of "CANADA" in Montreal, the US fans always have a habit of making it a nation specific thing .....
Posted by Rob | May 2, 2008 10:17 AM