Gallant: ‘It’s a shame’ Trouba has to fight after big hits

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

Trouba was the center of attention throughout a thrilling 5-4 overtime win over the Calgary Flames on Monday night for a pair of punishing hits on Dillon Dube and Nazem Kadri. Both collisions sparked instantaneous fights.

“It’s a shame you have to do that every time you throw a hit,” Gallant said. “For me, the first one was a good, clean hockey hit. It wasn’t a dangerous hit. You wouldn’t think there would be retaliation to that, but there was, and that’s fine.”

“But the second one, he hit Kadri pretty hard,” Gallant added. It looked like Kadri might have got hurt. I understand guys standing up for their teammates, but I think sometimes, it gets a little (bit of an) overreaction. Trouba’s a big hitter; people know that.”

Flames head coach Darryl Sutter didn’t see a problem with either play.

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

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

Trouba also sparked controversy during the playoffs last spring for hits on Sidney Crosby and Seth Jarvis. Neither play drew supplemental discipline.