Pete DeBoer ‘not buying’ criticism of officiating in Habs series
Updated June 22, 2021 - 9:00 pm

Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) is slammed against the boards by Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Golden Knights right wing Alex Tuch (89) takes a shot on goal while Canadiens defenseman Erik Gustafsson (32) defends during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) and Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) get into a scuffle during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Golden Knights defensemn Zach Whitecloud (2) and Brayden McNabb (3) clear the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (7) punches Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt

Montreal Canadiens fans celebrate after the team scored agains the Golden Knights during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Golden Knights' Chandler Stephenson (20) skates onto the ice before taking on the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

A Golden Knights fan wipes down the glass during a break in the first period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto

Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner (90) greets his kids Lennox, left, and Zoe before the start of Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens in an NHL hockey Stanley Cup semifinal playoff series at T-Mobile Arein Las Vegas on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Golden Knights coach Pete DeBoer wasn’t surprised by the disparity in penalties through the first four games of the Stanley Cup semifinals.
While the referees in the series, particularly Chris Lee and Dan O’Rourke, are under heavy criticism for their inconsistent standard of officiating, DeBoer isn’t joining the angry mob.
“The whole power play/penalties narrative that’s coming out, I’m not buying that,” DeBoer said Tuesday.
Entering Game 5 against Montreal at T-Mobile Arena, the Knights had a plus-five net penalty differential (12-7) and had 11 power plays to six for the Canadiens.
That translated to 20:03 of power-play time for the Knights in the series compared with 8:35 for Montreal.
Those numbers are consistent with the identities of both teams, according to DeBoer.
“We were one of the least penalized teams in the league during the regular season, and Montreal was one of the most,” DeBoer said. “If there’s a disparity there because they’re calling it looser or tight, I think that disparity is the same as it was during the regular season. That’s what we both are.”
The Knights were one of the NHL’s better teams at drawing penalties, ranking ninth during the regular season. They tied with Toronto for the fourth-fewest times short-handed.
Montreal ranked tied for 23rd in times short-handed despite being in the middle of the pack in total penalties taken (14th overall).
Mind games
Robin Lehner made a key stop against Canadiens rookie Cole Caufield on a breakaway in the third period of Game 4. Afterward, the goalie revealed the scouting report on the NCAA’s leading goal scorer was he goes high or through the five-hole between the legs.
Caufield was seen working with Montreal goaltending director Sean Burke after the morning skate Tuesday and was asked about Lehner’s comments.
“I think that’s a good thing that he’s thinking about what I’m going to do, so I’m just taking that into next game,” Caufield said. “It’s good that he’s kind of opening his mouth. You know what he’s thinking now, so I can kind of go off that and create new things to do and new things to look at.”
Small screen
Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and his family are featured in a TV ad for Honda that has run throughout the postseason.
Nick Holden has seen the commercial and couldn’t help but poke fun at his skills in front of the camera.
“I’m sure glad he chose hockey,” Holden said with a grin. “His acting looks pretty forced.”
GM award
General manager Kelly McCrimmon finished fifth in the voting for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award, garnering four first-place votes.
Lou Lamoriello of the New York Islanders won the award.
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.