Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has been suspended five games for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech.
The illegal hit came 8:10 into the third period of Thursday’s game. As Pelech carried the puck up into the neutral zone, Gallagher lined up a hit, extending his elbow up and into Pelech’s head.
Pelech was injured on the play; he left the ice and did not return to the game.
Gallagher was assessed a match penalty by referees Francois St. Laurent and Jon McIsaac, who confirmed their initial call via video review. After a phone hearing, Player Safety has tacked on an additional five games for the hit.
From the NHL’s Department of Player Safety:
As the video shows, Pelech skates the puck out of his defnsive zone as Gallagher cuts across the ice towards him. Pelech moves the puck to a teammate. After he does, Gallagher loads up, raises his arm, and elevates into a forceful check that cuts across the front of Pelech’s core and picks his head, making the head the main point of contact on a hit where such head contact was avoidable. This is an Illegal Check to the Head.
It is important to note that both elements of the Illegal Check to the Head rule are satisfied on this play.
First, the head is the main point of contact, as Gallagher’s elbow makes direct and forceful contact with Pelech’s head, and it is the head that absorbs the vast majority of the force of the check.
Second, the head contact on this hit is avoidable. G chooses an angle of approach that cuts across the front of Pelech’s body. Recognizing that he may be about to miss his check and in an attempt to get a piece of Pelech, Gallagher then flares his elbow and extends upward, picking his head with significant force.
If Gallagher wanted to deliver this hit, he must stay low and choose an angle that hits through Pelech’s shoulder and core, rather than one that makes the head the main point of contact.
If Gallagher chooses to appeal his suspension, it would go before commissioner Gary Bettman for a final ruling. Only suspensions six games in length or greater are heard by an outside arbitrator.
Gallagher forfeits $169,270.85 in salary as a result of the suspension.
The Islanders scored twice on the ensuing power play to tie the game, only to allow the game-winning goal later in the period. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Islanders 4-3. Referees were Francois St. Laurent (#8) and Jon McIsaac (#2), with linesmen Steve Barton (#59) and Tommy Hughes (#65).
