The NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher for an illegal check to the head he believed on New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech in the Islanders’ loss to Montreal on Jan. 25.
Gallagher’s illegal check came at the 11:52 mark of the third period with the Canadiens leading 3-1 and was assessed a match penalty. Pelech left the game and did not return.
The five-game suspension is the maximum allowable under the NHL’s collective bargaining agreement. It is the first suspension of Gallagher’s career.
Meanwhile, Pelech has a history of head injuries. Last season, the defenseman was forced to miss 21 games with a concussion. Earlier this year, he missed 20 games with an upper-body injury that he only just recently returned from.
Pelech’s status is unclear at this time; however, in the department’s explanation of Gallagher’s hit, they say that Pelech did suffer an injury.
The Islanders play the Florida Panthers tomorrow night at UBS Arena in their final game before the NHL All-Star Break.
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