It's one of the most visible problems with NHL reffing. Refs get down on certain players and call against them in every situation. The refs have decided Gallagher is a dirty player who interferes with goaltenders, and they call him for it whether he does or not. He was caught on camera once this year pushing a goalie but it's the first time I can remember him doing something in the crease other than getting whaled on.
It's sort of weird because visibly dirty players, like Marchand, get the benefit of the doubt, but then they have a mean, vindictive, owner who will get petty with refs who piss him off.
Maybe the refs are really good and they went over the game tape in detail and Marchand's antics come off better, while Gallagher is constantly throwing cheap shots we don't see from a distance. I'd be a little surprised...
The other main issue with reffing is that they have always been pretty aggressively pro-goon, but a lot of that is based on a belief it sells tickets. It does keep a lot of old people around, but most of the younger people I know are really not impressed by fighting on the ice. You're not going to out-violence the MMA guys, no point in getting into that competition.
