BOSTON — Special teams have played a crucial role in this Eastern Conference final between the Bruins and Lightning, and both coaches haven't been shy in openly questioning some of the calls that have led to those man-advantage situations.
Prior to Game 6, Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher expressed his "concern" about what he perceived as "lopsided" calls against the Lightning by Eric Furlatt, one of the referees assigned to work that game.
After the contest, which Tampa won 5-4 in large part thanks to three goals on the power play, Bruins coach Claude Julien expressed his displeasure with the officiating.
"I don't know if I agree with those calls," Julien said in his postgame news conference. "And hopefully what was said [by Boucher] didn't have any impact on that, because if it did, I'd be really disappointed."
The guys in stripes who will be making the calls in Friday's crucial Game 7 at the Garden will be Dan O'Halloran and Stephen Walkom. This is the first time this postseason that they have worked together for a game involving either Boston or Tampa Bay, but both have worked several games involving these teams separately.
O'Halloran worked Game 4 of this series with Tim Peel, when the Lightning stormed back from a 3-0 deficit for a 5-3 win. Each team was called for three minors and a fighting major in that game, and both sides were 0-for-2 on the power play. O'Halloran also worked Game 3 of the Montreal series, which Boston won 4-2, and Game 3 against Philadelphia, a 5-1 win for the Bruins.
He also worked Game 7 of Tampa Bay's opening-round series with Pittsburgh, which the Lightning won 1-0 on the road, despite being called for six penalties to just two for the Penguins.
Walkom worked Game 3 of this series with Steve Kozari, with Boston winning 2-0 in Tampa. Each team was called for four penalties and was 0-for-3 on the power play. Walkom also worked Game 4 of the Montreal series (a 5-4 Bruins win in overtime) and Game 4 against Philadelphia (a 5-1 Boston win). He also worked the final game of Tampa's sweep of Washington, a 5-3 Lightning win when Tampa was called for three penalties to Washington's five.
The linesmen for Game 7 on Friday will be Steve Miller and Pierre Racicot.
