STANLEY CUP NOTES

Taking the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup finals might be Jacques Demers’ second-biggest accomplishment this season. Perhaps more significant is that he healed a rift between French- and English-speaking players that developed in Montreal under the previous coach, Pat Burns.

“We had a couple of problems last year with the French and English, and that was just a bunch of rubbish,” winger Mike Keane said Sunday. “(Now) we do everything together. We eat together, we go out together. There’s not any different cliques. There’s mixed French-English, and we’re just a tight bunch of guys. And when you get that close, you’re going to fight for each other, and that’s what we’re doing now.

“Jacques is more of a father figure. I think a lot of players needed that. Pat Burns was a little more tough on players. He was a little more harsh. I think some players need a pat on the back once in a while, and that’s what he gives us.”

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Guy Carbonneau again denied closing his hand on the puck in the crease Saturday, which would have given the Kings a penalty shot. “I’m not shy. I would say it if I did,” he said.

Asked how long he had heard complaints that Montreal gets the benefit of marginal calls, he replied: “About 11 years.”

Demers praised Carbonneau’s defensive work against Wayne Gretzky, an assignment Carbonneau has requested. Carbonneau was on the bench when Gretzky scored the Kings’ third goal. “I was told he was a guy who would go through the wall, and that’s what he’s doing now,” Demers said.

King Coach Barry Melrose, however, conceded nothing. “If in the rest of the series Carbonneau does as good a job as he did (Saturday) night, I’ll be a very happy coach,” he said. “They stop Gretz (in Game 2) and they say he never touched the puck. I thought Wayne could have gotten five points that game. Wayne (Saturday) night had a goal and an assist and he could have had more. I just find it funny (that) every time he doesn’t have a point, they say Carbonneau is doing an unbelievable job.”