Habs' Julien sounds off on officiating vs. Flyers

The Montreal Canadiens received a baffling penalty at the end of the third period on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers, and coach Claude Julien was predictably infuriated.

"There's a point there that they've (referees) got to take certain responsibilities," Julien told reporters postgame, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "What's disappointing to me is after that, I don't know if they felt embarrassed but they made sure that we weren't going to get any breaks."

Midway through the third period in a tie game, the Canadiens changed lines after an icing call because they believed the puck deflected off someone at center ice. They were then handed a delay of game penalty for debating the icing call and not changing back to the same line quick enough.

"I'm trying to put the same guys back on the ice and they're not letting me," Julien added. "And I'm telling him that, 'You want the guys that are on the ice, I'm giving you the guys.' And he gives me a delay of game penalty."

The Canadiens coach didn't shy away from calling out the officials and how they handled themselves after botching the call.

"I was disappointed in the way it was handled after," he said. "The stick to Drouin's face that everybody saw, (the official) saw it. I know he saw it and decided not to call it."

Despite being called for six penalties while Philadelphia took none, Julien didn't completely blame the referees.

"Honestly, I can take a lot of responsibility ... Most of the penalties tonight, they were penalties. Slashing, hooking, this and that. So we take responsibility for that."

The Habs went on to lose to the Flyers in overtime.

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