Go Habs Go
Rejoint: mars 2017
Messages: 10,667
Mentions "j'aime": 4,091
Gallagher has done pretty well at not targeting players, especially considering how tough defensemen have been on him around the crease.
He's had plenty of reason to retaliate in a way that would cause an injury.
There's no way he suddenly decided he was going to do it to this specific player in this specific game, which was ultimately meaningless.
It was dirty beyond a doubt, but more in a reckless way than purposeful.
A short player misjudged the location of a tall player's head, while using upward thrust leading with the elbow to compensate for the size and strength disadvantage in order to make an impactful hit.
I am still disappointed in him for delivering it, but I'm not going to hold it against him beyond expecting appropriate punishment, as long as it doesn't become a habit.
A strong reaction is warranted, but it's being amplified for reasons which have nothing to do with the hit.
If he were a more valuable/productive player "fans" wouldn't be so quick to lambast him for his first serious incident in 12 years.
Nobody was trying to run Slafkovsky out of town for boarding Luff.