Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher was frustrated with referee Pierre Lambert after a late tripping penalty was called on him against the Calgary Flames.
Gallagher was whistled for tripping Calgary’s Elias Lindholm in the closing minutes of Tuesday’s game, with the Habs trailing 2-1. While Montreal was able to kill off the penalty, it left them with little time at even strength to tie the game.
After the game, Gallagher questioned the call made by Lambert, who was near the blue line. The low referee, Jake Brenk, whose view was likely obscured by the goal, made no call on the play.
Gallagher spoke about the play after the game.
“Can’t happen. [The referee is] in the neutral zone. It’s a terrible call. He can’t make that mistake. Simple as that.”
“[Lindholm] turns backwards and hits the net. [Lambert’s] partner (referee Jake Brenk) is right there. Let him call it. The reason [Lambert] calls it – their bench makes noise and he reacts to it. Can’t happen.”
“He can’t make that mistake. It’s obviously a real important part of the game. He’s in the neutral zone, his partner’s right there looking at it, he didn’t have a penalty called. Their bench reacts and he makes a reactionary call. It can’t happen at this level and he knows that.”
Lambert, from St-Hubert, Quebec, is in his seventh season as a National Hockey League referee – his fifth as a full-timer. Lambert, 35, has officiated 373 regular season games, having made his league debut on November 17, 2016.
The Calgary Flames hung on for a 2-1 win. Referees for the game were Pierre Lambert (#37) and Jake Brenk (#26), with linesmen Libor Suchanek (#60) and James Tobias (#61).
