Byfuglien not suspended for hit on Gallagher

Dustin Byfuglien had a date with the NHL’s department of player safety on Tuesday morning where the Jets’ all-star defenceman walked away with out being handed any game suspension for a check he delivered on Montreal’s Brendan Gallagher.

The incident, which resulted in a minor penalty, occurred in the opening period during the Jets’ 5-1 loss to the Canadiens on Sunday night. Byfuglien, who is known as a repeat offender, skated across his own blue-line and connected with Gallagher’s head.

This isn’t the first time Big Buff has had a run-in with the league. According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the NHL has issued three previous warnings to the Jets blue-liner.

Byfuglien served a four-game suspension in April when he cross-checked New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller in the back of the head.

We’re still early into the season, but the Jets are slowly building a bad reputation with the league’s department of player safety.

Last week, Byfuglien avoided further discipline when he drove a vulnerable Jason Pomminville into the boards during a game against the Minnesota Wild.

Then there was Alex Burmistrov’s elbow on the Wild’s Jared Spurgeon during the same game. He paid the price for the hit and was fined $4,166.67 by the league. Burmistrov was fortunate he didn’t receive a harsher penalty for the elbow.

Jacob Trouba escaped suspension for this check on St. Louis Blues forward Troy Brouwer a couple weeks back. The league looked at it, but didn’t think there was enough to warrant a ban considering there was no call on the play, Brouwer skated off the ice under his own power and later returned to the game. Once again though, it was a close call.

Finally, Burmistrov got the ball rolling this season when he threw this questionable hit on Bruins star Patrice Bergeron in the opening game of the year.