Galant: “It’s a shame” Trouba has to fight after big hits

New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant thinks captain Jacob Trouba doesn’t have to answer the bell every time he flattens an opponent.

Trouba was the center of attention during a thrilling 5-4 overtime win against the Calgary Flames on Monday night when he found two hard goals from Dillon Dube and Nazem Kadri. Both collisions sparked immediate fighting.

“It’s a shame you have to do that every time you get a hit,” Gallant said. “For me, the first was a good, clean hockey shot. It wasn’t a dangerous blow.

“But he hit Kadri pretty hard on the second,” added Gallant. It looked like Kadri had been injured. I understand guys standing up for their teammates, but sometimes I think it’s a little (somewhat) overreacting. Trouba is a big hitter; people know that.”

Flames head coach Darryl Sutter saw no problem in either game.

“They were all clean, good hits,” he said.

Trouba has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous open-ice sticks in the league in recent years. Earlier this season, Chicago Blackhawks forward Andreas Athanasiou called out the Rangers rearguard for “trying to hurt high-hitting players.”

Trouba also sparked controversy during last spring’s playoffs for dating Sidney Crosby and Seth Jarvis. None of the games required additional discipline.

Source: www.thescore.com