Montreal Canadiens forward Kirby Dach exited Sunday night's game against the Anaheim Ducks after absorbing a high hit from winger Jeffrey Viel just three minutes into the first period. Dach, who had swatted at the puck with his arm but missed, was caught off guard in Anaheim's end. He fell to the ice with his face in his gloves before gingerly making his way to the bench and eventually to the dressing room.

Viel was not penalized for the hit, though Canadiens players showed their displeasure. Defenseman Arber Xhekaj and forward Josh Anderson approached Viel later in the period, apparently requesting a fight, but Viel declined. The incident adds to mounting concerns about dangerous hits in the NHL, coming just three days after Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas ended Toronto captain Auston Matthews' season with a knee-on-knee hit that caused a torn medial collateral ligament.

The Canadiens will now monitor Dach's status, as upper-body injuries can range from minor to serious. With the team fighting for playoff positioning, losing Dach for any extended period would be a significant blow to Montreal's offensive depth. The lack of a penalty on Viel may also draw scrutiny from the league's Department of Player Safety.