The Phoenix Coyotes lost Game 3 of the Western Conference Final to the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1, taking four minor penalties in the third period to undermine any rally.
Two of the calls upset Coach Dave Tippett: a retaliatory cross-check by Oliver Ekman-Larsson on Dustin Brown and a Radim Vrbata stick-slash on Anze Kopitar very late in the third. After Game 3, Tippett had more than a few words about the officiating and embellishment in today's NHL:
The money quote from Tippett:
"The game is turning a little dishonest. And it's embellishment by players. When it's done well, it's very hard for the referees, because if you fall down near the boards, or you drop your stick or you throw your head back, you're putting the referee in a very tough situation."
Tippett said both the Kings and Coyotes benefited from embellishment in the series, and that the current "dishonest" streak in the NHL mandates that "if everybody else is going to do it, you gotta do it too."
So at least Tippett isn't pretending that the Coyotes are without sin when casting stones at the Kings. Because any coach with Mike Smith between the pipes is in no position to bemoan the embellishment of others.
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