Repeated blows to the face: several hours at the dentist for Brendan Gallagher

Brendan Gallagher is a little warrior. He’ll do anything for a Canadiens jersey.

He’s willing to eat sherwood in the face to help his club. And against the Capitals, it happened twice this week.

The playoffs, they’re a blast.

Brendan Gallagher takes a cross-check up high for the 2nd straight game pic.twitter.com/eFXFnyUC5q

– Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) April 24, 2025

Given that referees put away their whistles in the playoffs (especially for hits to the face) and that Gally has a reputation that precedes him, it’s clear that the player is a victim of the playoff game.

And that’s bound to affect him.

As he told the journalists who follow the Habs this morning, and as reported by Eric Engels yesterday, the CH player spent several hours in the dentist’s chair.

Nothing less.

Brendan Gallagher says he spent half of yesterday in the dentist’s chair

– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) April 25, 2025

With so many players making game time decisions ahead of tonight’s game, you have to wonder if Gallagher is one of them. After all, his anecdote raises doubts.

But because #11 is the real deal, I expect to see him play tonight.

We’ll just have to hope for better refereeing tonight. Will the crowd have an effect on how the referees work if there are ever blows to the face?

Because let’s face it: while whining about referees is a national sport in the playoffs, the 2025 vintage is pretty special in that respect. I recently re-watched the Maurice Richard movie and it sounds like the 2025 referees came out of the movie when the Rocket got hit in the head.

In the NHL, you get a 2-minute penalty for removing an opponent’s helmet from his head. Example Mackie Samoskevich tonight on Ryan McDonagh. Not sure how much pain that is. But when you get double-checked in the face, there’s no question of penalizing the player..

– Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) April 25, 2025

in a row

– We’ll find out on May 5 whether Lane Hutson will be nominated for the Calder.

The finalists for the Calder trophy will be announced on Monday, May 5th. https://t.co/2frQFnRGxQ

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) April 25, 2025

– Ouch.

The Red Sox will have to find the problem sooner rather than later. https://t.co/AmRGD2W2oY

– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) April 25, 2025

– Read on.

Without Thomas Harley stepping up and stepping in for Miro Heiskanen, “We might not be sitting here.”

My story on Harley, a low-key Norris candidate and one of the Dallas Stars’ most critical pieces:https://t.co/NpIgn5YHqx

– Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) April 25, 2025

– He skates.

Aliaksei Protas pic.twitter.com/9aSRloQ7pm

– Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) April 25, 2025