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If you think Fehr ‘kind of flopped’ for key penalty call, DeBoer probably agrees with you

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Sidney Crosby wins the face off and a quick play is made by Phil Kessel who shoots the puck to the net and opens up the opportunity for Evgeni Malkin on the power play.

SAN JOSE -- Evgeni Malkin’s deciding goal in Pittsburgh’s Game 4 victory over the Sharks came on the power play, after Melker Karlsson was whistled for interference on Eric Fehr.

It was a pivotal call, to say the least.

And it’s one San Jose head coach Peter DeBoer didn’t like.

Quick transcript, from the postgame presser:

Q: Coach, the penalty on Melker that led to the goal, it looked like the guy kind of flopped. How did you see it?

DeBoer: Probably the same way you did.

The decision to penalize Karlsson was a big one, especially in a game that featured just two power play opportunities for each team (and especially in a series where whistles have gone away for long stretches.)

The play in question:

Karlsson was demonstratively upset with the decision, and it’s pretty clear DeBoer didn’t think much of it either.

The head coach did, however, stop short of saying that penalty calls and power play opportunities were a major factor in the outcome.

“That wasn’t the difference in the game tonight,” DeBoer said. “The special teams battle has been even in the series, and I don’t think that’s a deciding factor either way for either team.”