Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has been handed a five-game suspension for his brutal hit on Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech, as announced by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Friday.
The decision was made following an over-the-phone hearing between Gallagher and the Department of Player Safety. Hearings over the phone come with a maximum five-game sentence.
Gallagher delivered an elbow to Pelech’s head at 11:52 of the third period in Thursday’s game, after Pelech had already passed the puck in the neutral zone.
Pelech fell to the ice and was attended to by the team’s training staff before leaving the game and not returning.
Gallagher was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for the hit.
Following the game on Thursday, head coach Patrick Roy did not have an update on Pelech’s condition. The defenseman missed 21 games last year due to a concussion.
This is the first suspension of Gallagher’s 12-year career.

