Pelech hit will cost Canadien 5 games

Justice was relative for the Islanders after Adam Pelech was on the wrong end of Brendan Gallagher’s illegal elbow to the head Thursday night.

NHL Player Safety announced Friday following a phone hearing that Gallagher will receive a five-game suspension for the hit, which saw him accrue a five-minute major and ejection from the eventual 4-3 Canadiens win over the Islanders. That was the maximum penalty that could have been levied outside of an in-person hearing.

The veteran forward left his feet to deliver the open-ice hit on Pelech and appeared to stick his elbow out in order to catch the defenseman’s head.

Pelech, who has suffered a head injury previously, crumbled to the ground. After a few minutes, he exited the Bell Centre ice with the help of a trainer.

“I didn’t see it. Obviously, it was pretty bad if they gave him a five,” Bo Horvat said after the game. “Hopefully Pelly’s OK. I haven’t heard how he’s doing or anything like that.”

Pelech has already missed 23 games this season, most of them with a presumed wrist injury. Last season, he was out for 21 games with a presumed concussion after being hit into the end boards by Robert Bortuzzo.

Because the Islanders did not practice Friday, there was no update on Pelech’s condition.

➤ As expected, Zach Parise officially came out of retirement Friday night.

But in a curveball, he eschewed a return to the Islanders to instead sign with the Avalanche, with Colorado announcing he had signed a one-year deal worth $825,000.

➤ Noah Dobson reached 45 assists Thursday night, becoming the first Islander since Bryan Trottier in 1983-84 to do so in the team’s first 48 games and the fastest defenseman in team history to do so, per team statistician