Montreal Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has been suspended five games for an illegal check to the head of New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech.

The NHL announced the suspension Friday after a disciplinary phone hearing with Gallagher, who was given a match penalty and ejected for hitting Pelech in the head with his right elbow midway through the third period of the teams' game Thursday night. Pelech did not return.