Novak Knocked Out of the Game, It was Dillon AGAIN

NEWARK — Brendan Dillon is not a friend of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The New Jersey Devils have a history of injuring Penguins forwards and did so again Saturday afternoon during the Penguins vs. New Jersey tilt at the Prudential Center.

At 10:41 of the first period, Novak reached for a puck near the blue line, but was instead struck in the head area by a combination of Dillon’s forearm and shoulder. Novak went down immediately and lay facedown on the ice for a few moments.

Penguins forward Blake Lizotte completed a rush chance as Penguins winger Anthony Mantha forced Dillon to answer for the hit. Mantha and Dillon fought at center ice.

According to HockeyFights.com, that was Mantha’s 18th career NHL fight going back to 2016-17.

Novak left the ice to go to the locker room, but quickly returned to the bench before being called back to the room.

Dillon was suspended for three games for a Feb. 6, 2024, hit to the head on Penguins forward Noel Acciari. Dillon also broke Penguins center Teddy Blueger’s jaw on Jan. 23, 2022, but was not punished by the league.

Dillon was previously a member of the 2016 San Jose Sharks that lost to the Penguins in the Stanley Cup Final, as well as a member of the Washington Capitals.

Novak returned for the second period.

Tags: brendon dillon Pittsburgh Penguins tommy novak

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