Does it seem like the Canadiens and their media loyalists are trying to get Matt Niskanen suspended?

The hit he put on Brendan Gallagher is all over social media, and now the NHL’s Department of Player Safety is apparently reviewing the game five cross check.

If you didn’t see it, here’s the slow-mo replay the Canadiens’ Twitter account posted:

https://twitter.com/canadiensmtl/status/1296440583712538628

Flyers head coach Alain Vigneault was asked about the incident today, and understandably downplayed it:


“In my estimation, Gallagher got up and seemed fine, he was talking to the referees, the whole time that he was on the bench he was talking to our players for the rest of the game. Gallagher’s a very competitive player, but I don’t think it’s Nisky’s fault he might not be as tall as other guys, but he competes as big, if not bigger, than anybody else. It just seemed (like) a hockey play that unfortunately cut him a little bit.”

It’s kind of a bang-bang play, from our estimation. Gallagher is in a pseudo-crouch while turning, and if you watch the motion, Niskanen is coming slightly down with the stick. He’s certainly not pushing up or going intentionally high. It’s similar to those football plays where a cornerback accidentally goes helmet-to-helmet on a receiver or running back who ducks his head at the last moment.

Question is whether or not Montreal is “campaigning” for a suspension, which Justin Bourne asks:

Yes, it’s something to think about. If you go to the accounts of Montreal and Canadian hockey media, there’s a lot of talk about this hit. Surprise! They’re trying to keep it fresh in the news cycle.

Also, Anthony points out that Montreal “pulls this kind of stuff all the time,” in his words. He reminded me of the 2010 playoffs, when they had some schlub sprinkle sand in the hallway outside the Flyers’ locker room so it would get in their skate blades and cause them to have issues on the ice. That’s outrageous and unsportsmanlike.

Maybe Nisknanen is suspended, or maybe not. Regardless, the Flyers will win game six and send the poutine-eaters back home to Montreal.