Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher delivered a punch that may have cost his team a shot to tie the game. Now it’s also cost him $2,500.
Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has been fined $2,500 for roughing New York Rangers forward Barclay Goodrow. The incident took place with 33 seconds remaining in the third period, with the Habs trailing 3-2.
The two players – who met in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, with Goodrow then part of the eventual-cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning – exchanged words prior to the faceoff. As play resumed, Gallagher fell to the ice. As he got back to his feet, he turned and delivered a right cross to Goodrow.
Gallagher was given a minor penalty for roughing, along with a ten-minute misconduct.
From Rule 51:
Roughing is a punching or slamming motion with or without the glove on the hand, normally directed at the head or face of an opponent, or if a player intentionally removes an opponent’s helmet during play pursuant to Rule 9.6.
Roughing is a minor altercation that is not worthy of a major penalty to either participant. (An altercation is a situation involving two players with at least one to be penalized).
Rule 46 – Fighting – does include a provision for a sucker-punch that causes injury.
A match penalty shall be assessed to a player who punches an unsuspecting or unwilling opponent (i.e. “sucker punch”) and causes an injury.
Goodrow was not injured on the play.
The Rangers held on to win 3-2.
Referees for the game were Francois St. Laurent and Corey Syvret. Linesmen were Libor Suchanek and Jonathan Deschamps.
