Photo credit: Screenshot/YouTube
Even when the Canadiens wins, some sequences leave a bitter taste.
On Saturday, a light contact triggered a late fall that got people talking. The referees raised their arm, and Ivan Demidov ended up in the penalty box.
The problem is the domino effect that comes with that kind of call. A questionable penalty cuts a shift short, breaks the rhythm, and then turns a game into a debate.
The Canadiens still found a way to earn two points, but the discussion drifted elsewhere.
An awkward scene despite the CH win: the NHL needs to take a look at this
“Tim Stutzle takes three business days to fall after being touched. Gets the call.”
What frustrates people is that the file already carries a reputation for diving. And the more it happens, the more honest players get looked at sideways too.
Honestly, it’s hard to sell the “best league in the world” when a sequence like this steals the show.
In terms of production, Stutzle is not a insignificant player, and that’s exactly what makes all of this unnecessary.
Last year, he finished with 79 points in 82 games. In total, up to the end of 2024-2025, that gives him 326 points in 367 games, which speaks volumes.
The discomfort is the message sent by inaction when it becomes recurring. If the league lets it slide, it encourages players to test the limit.
Then afterward, we wonder why referees hesitate even on real penalties.
The NHL already has what it takes to calm this down quickly, without humiliating anyone: systematic post-game reviews, clear fines, and real consistency.
Otherwise, we’ll keep forcing a bitter laugh, CH win or not.
Previously on All Montreal Hockey
POLL
17 HOURS AGOÂ Â Â |Â Â Â 344 ANSWERS
Despite the win, a controversial Stutzle sequence leaves a bitter taste for the Canadiens
Should the NHL punish Tim Stutzle’s dives more harshly?