Fans furious as controversial referee mistake nearly costs Canadiens the game
Lane Hutson gave Martin St-Louis a win in Game 3, but Montreal's overtime escape left the Bell Centre talking about the refs, to the point where an investigation should be considered by the league to look into match fixing, it is that bad.
Many are even calling for the referee to be fired.
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The Canadiens beat the Lightning 3-2 in overtime on Thursday and moved ahead 2-1 in the series.
That should've been the only story. It wasn't.
The biggest moment in the game came before Tampa Bay's second goal, when Scott Sabourin drove Jake Evans from behind near the boards and no penalty was called.
Seconds later, Brandon Hagel scored to put the Lightning ahead for the first time all night.
That non-call changed the entire feel of the game. Instead of a Montreal power play in a tie game, the Canadiens were suddenly chasing from behind.
The missed call became the turning point for the Canadiens
That's why the frustration around this one isn't overblown.
A hit from behind in that spot usually gets called, especially in a playoff game already riding a tight edge.
Several analysts went after the standard the officials set at Bell Centre, and it was hard to argue with them after that sequence.
- François Gagnon
The anger only grew because the standard didn't stay the same. Earlier in the night, Kirby Dach was tagged for tripping on a play many viewers felt featured embellishment.
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That contrast is what stuck. One dangerous play goes uncalled, then a lighter sequence gets whistled, and the game swings around both decisions.
Montreal still found a way to push through it. That part matters too.
The Canadiens stayed composed, didn't let the bench unravel, and got the bounce they needed in overtime to take control of the series.
That resilience says something about this group. They absorbed a break that went against them, kept their structure, and still finished the job.
But the larger issue isn't going away after a win.
When a missed infraction directly leads to a goal in a 3-2 overtime game, the conversation shifts from execution to officiating, and that's exactly what happened here.
Montreal owns the result. The officials still own the controversy.
If this series is going to stay this tight, both teams need a cleaner standard from puck drop to the final whistle.
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APRIL 26, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Josh Doan | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Zach Benson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Peyton Krebs | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Bowen Byram | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ryan McLeod | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Alex Tuch | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Viktor Arvidsson | - | - | - | |
| Jonathan Aspirot | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Dahlin | - | - | - | |
| Morgan Geekie | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Greenway | - | - | - | |
| Jordan Harris | - | - | - | |
| Tanner Jeannot | - | - | - | |
| Mark Kastelic | - | - | - | |
| Marat Khusnutdinov | - | - | - | |
| Tyson Kozak | - | - | - | |
| Sean Kuraly | - | - | - | |
| Elias Lindholm | - | - | - | |
| Hampus Lindholm | - | - | - | |
| Alex Lyon | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||
| 2025-2026 NHL STANDINGS | ||||||
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Sabres | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | |
| Lightning | 82 | 50 | 26 | 6 | 106 | |
| Canadiens | 82 | 48 | 24 | 10 | 106 | |
| Bruins | 82 | 45 | 27 | 10 | 100 | |
| Senators | 82 | 44 | 27 | 11 | 99 | |
| Red Wings | 82 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 92 | |
| Panthers | 82 | 40 | 38 | 4 | 84 | |
| Maple Leafs | 82 | 32 | 36 | 14 | 78 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Hurricanes | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 113 | |
| Penguins | 82 | 41 | 25 | 16 | 98 | |
| Flyers | 82 | 43 | 27 | 12 | 98 | |
| Capitals | 82 | 43 | 30 | 9 | 95 | |
| Blue Jackets | 82 | 40 | 30 | 12 | 92 | |
| Islanders | 82 | 43 | 34 | 5 | 91 | |
| Devils | 82 | 42 | 37 | 3 | 87 | |
| Rangers | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Avalanche | 82 | 55 | 16 | 11 | 121 | |
| Stars | 82 | 50 | 20 | 12 | 112 | |
| Wild | 82 | 46 | 24 | 12 | 104 | |
| Mammoth | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Blues | 82 | 37 | 33 | 12 | 86 | |
| Predators | 82 | 38 | 34 | 10 | 86 | |
| Jets | 82 | 35 | 35 | 12 | 82 | |
| Blackhawks | 82 | 29 | 39 | 14 | 72 | |
| GP | W | L | OL | PTS | ||
| Golden Knights | 82 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 95 | |
| Oilers | 82 | 41 | 30 | 11 | 93 | |
| Ducks | 82 | 43 | 33 | 6 | 92 | |
| Kings | 82 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 90 | |
| Sharks | 82 | 39 | 35 | 8 | 86 | |
| Kraken | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 | |
| Flames | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | |
| Canucks | 82 | 25 | 49 | 8 | 58 | |
COMPLETE STANDINGS | ||||||