Dominique Ducharme the latest head coach to criticize officiating in the playoffs.

The Montreal Canadiens were soundly defeated on Saturday night thanks to an inspired performance from the Toronto Maple Leafs who were playing in their first game since losing captain John Tavares to a horrible looking injury in Game 1. In spite of losing a key cog in their offense in Tavares, the Leafs dominated the Habs offensively in Game 2 eventually picking up a 5 - 1 victory in spite of the best efforts of goaltender Carey Price who has been solid through the first two games of the series.

There are a number of factors that one could point to as to why the Habs were out classed in this one, however in a move that has seemingly started to become a trend in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Canadiens head coach Dominique Ducharme was critical of the officiating on the ice following his team's loss. Ducharme wasn't as blunt as some of the other coaches have been thus far in the playoffs, but there was no mistaking his comments for anything other than criticism of the National Hockey League's officiating crew.

"I was surprised by the way it was called tonight," said Ducharme following the loss.

On the other side of the coin however, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe did not appear to be surprised by the way the game was called and seemed to blame the Canadiens themselves for playing a brand of hockey that lends itself to penalties being called.

"They want to make it a war," said Keefe following his team's 5 - 1 victory on Saturday. "If you're going to do that you're at risk of getting penalties called against you."

Although Ducharme's comments may come off as sour grapes following a tough loss for his team, he has not been the only coach to speak out against the officiating in the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far. Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour was rather blunt last week when he openly stated that he felt his team was competing against both the Nashville Predators and the officials on the ice.

"We played great. We played hard. We're playing a great team. ... But we're also fighting the refs," said Brind'Amour. "That's plain and simple. You can't tell me two games in a row we get seven, eight penalties and they get three. And when the game's this even - it's not right."

Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper also expressed his dismay at the officiating on Saturday, this in spite of the fact that his team emerged victorious in Game 4 of their series against the Florida Panthers.

"When your players are being told, 'Don't do anything stupid. We'll get you.' And the other team gets rewarded for it," said a frustrated Cooper. "I just don't get it. It's really frustrating. Don't get me wrong. We're not angels out there. Not sitting here saying that. Far from it. But when there's a standard set and nothing gets done…"

Surprisingly the league has not issued any fines in spite of the coaches speaking critically of their officials, something it has been quick to stamp down on in the past, and one has to wonder if this trend will continue should the league decide not to step in and put a stop to it in the playoffs.