Canadiens Criticize Officiating After Game 4 Loss

The Montreal Canadiens are on the brink of elimination after a 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 4, leaving them down 3-1 in the series. Head coach Martin St. Louis and goaltender Jakub Dobes criticized the officiating, citing missed or questionable calls, including a minor penalty on Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin for a hit on Jake Evans and an unpenalized hit by Tom Wilson on Alexandre Carrier. The Canadiens argued both incidents deserved harsher punishment and claimed inconsistent refereeing contributed to their defeat. St. Louis and Dobes also criticized a perceived lack of enforcement on embellishment, despite recent NHL mandates. The series now shifts to Washington for a must-win Game 5 for Montreal. Meanwhile, the Capitals praised Wilson’s physical impact as they move one win away from advancing.