Gallagher gets tossed from the game and is likely looking at a lengthy suspension for dirty elbow on Pelech

Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has been tossed from tonight's game and assessed a five minute Major penalty for an absolutely open ice brutal elbow on New York Islander defenseman Adam Pelech.

Here's the hit in question:

That's a dirty hit, no two ways about it.

I suspect that Gallagher will earn himself at least a few games, as a result. Honestly, I could see him get as much as a five game suspension... but you never really know with NHL Player Safety these days.

Read below for our earlier report from this game, centering on youngster Juraj Slafkovsky

2022 1st overall selection Juraj Slafkovsky had a decent first season in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens.

Not great. Not even really particularly good... but decent.

The 6'3", 240 lb Slovakian winger put up four goals and 10 points in 39 games and found himself out of the lineup on more nights than I'm sure he'd like. He was under the microscope more than perhaps any other rookie last season and impressed at times, but he wasn't even close to being in a class with the likes of the NHL's top rookies like Matty Beniers, Owen Power and Mason McTavish.

This year... well... it's kind of the same deal.

Slafkovsky has just six goals and 18 points in 47 games, which is an improvement to be fair but it's not exactly what you'd expect from someone with 1st overall pedigree.Part of his lacklustre showing last season comes down to a knee injury that he suffered in January, but this season he's been healthy the entire campaign and still hasn't shown what he's truly capable of. To be frank, the Habs fans that I talk to are kind of getting nervous just waiting for Slafkovsky to finally put it all together.

Tonight, with Habs legend Patrick Roy back in Montreal for the first time as head coach of the New York Islanders, Slafkovsky is showing us a bit of what makes him such an intriguing talent. Slafkovsky had a deft pass for an assist on captain Nick Suzuki's tap in goal and well... let's just say he's making his presence felt, both on the ice and at home in your living room.

Check out the cameras catching Slafkovsky going off on Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov:

Honestly, I'd love to see a lot more out of this kind of behaviour out of Slafkovsky, especially if he's not going to be hitting the scoresheet on the regular. He HAS to find a way to make himself relevant in each and every game or else head coach Martin St. Louis' patience is going to run thin.