ESPN announcer Sean McDonough questions Rasmus Dahlin injury during Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens NHL playoff Game 4

The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens’ intense NHL playoff series took on another layer of controversy with ESPN announcer Sean McDonough questioning Rasmus Dahlin’s injury during Game 4. The incident was one of the biggest talking points from the NHL game today after a double minor penalty handed Buffalo a momentum shift.

Rasmus Dahlin took a cut lip after getting hit with a stick from Alexandre Carrier in the second-round playoff clash. But Sean McDonough was quite candid in suggesting during the broadcast that the Buffalo Sabres defenseman may have embellished the injury to get the benefit of a four-minute power play against the Montreal Canadiens.

Rasmus Dahlin penalty during Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens NHL Game 4 sparks heated reactions

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier was assessed a double-minor advantage after officials reviewed a high-stick play on Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin’s bloody lip caused the referees to extend the penalty in the crucial playoff game.

Sean McDonough immediately asked about the situation during ESPN’s live coverage. The longtime broadcaster suggested the cut could have been old and said Dahlin could have tried to reopen the wound to make an impression on officials. The comments immediately sparked a huge reaction in conversations in NHL news roundups and on social media.

The Buffalo Sabres scored moments later, getting the tying goal on the power play. And a strange ricochet off Montreal Canadiens goalie Jakub Dobes turned the tide dramatically in Game 4 before the Buffalo Sabres won a 3-2 comeback victory.

The result tied the playoff series and amplified the emotions between both franchises heading into the next NHL playoff contest. Fans on both sides debated whether the officials got the penalty right and whether Sean McDonough’s comments crossed a line during the national broadcast.

The Buffalo Sabres got going after a slow start to the series, and the Montreal Canadiens feel a little extra pressure heading into the next postseason meeting. The controversy that has added another layer to an already physical rivalry that has become one of the most talked-about NHL updates this week also includes Rasmus Dahlin’s name.

The latest battle between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens should command even more attention from NHL supporters and pundits with playoff implications and tempers flaring.