BREAKING: Montreal Canadiens Brendan Gallagher Disciplined For Dirtiest Hit Of The NHL Season
Montreal Canadiens player Brendan Gallagher was penalized during Thursday night’s game against the Islanders for what many consider to be the most severe hit of the 2023-24 NHL season so far. He was given a 5-minute major penalty and a Game Misconduct for illegally checking skater Adam Pelech in the head without Pelech being aware of Gallagher’s approach.
Gallagher is required to attend a disciplinary hearing on Friday with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, during which they will decide on further consequences such as fines or suspension. In the meantime, Adam Pelech exited the ice appearing disoriented from the head hit that left him sprawled on the ice.
Brendan Gallagher receives a five-minute major and game misconduct for an illegal check to the head on Adam Pelech. pic.twitter.com/k3NKyZqanh
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 26, 2024
“That hit was absolutely unacceptable. It was a clear case of using the elbow away from the body and striking the jaw,” commented on the incident. “There’s no excuse for a hit like that, none whatsoever.”
The hit occurred when Adam Pelech was caught off-guard, unaware of Gallagher’s presence on the ice. To make matters worse, Pelech had already released the puck. While hockey fans typically defend their players even in the face of damning evidence of dirty play, even Montreal Canadiens fans cannot deny the unjustifiability of this hit.
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has not indicated whether the hearing will be conducted in-person, but it is scheduled to take place today. Fans of the sport are predicting a suspension of at least two games, although the official punishment remains unknown until it is announce
