Slafkovsky feeling fine but irked by Acciari hit: 'I got KO'd'

Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky seems to be no worse for wear after exiting Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he isn't happy about the hit that knocked him out of the contest.

"It's a good thing that my head is fine and that (there were no effects) afterwards," he told reporters Monday. "I was pissed because, like, (there were) three minutes until the end of the game, and I want to be out there."

Slafkovsky confirmed that he underwent concussion protocol after colliding with Noel Acciari, who wasn't penalized on the play.

When asked if he believes the league should have reviewed the hit, Slafkovsky responded affirmatively.

"Obviously I put myself in that spot, but you expect to get reverse hit," he said. "They teach me to reverse hit with my back and my ass, not with my arm. So I was maybe expecting a different type of contact from him. ... I got KO'd and had to go take a shower."

Slafkovsky brought up a moment involving Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was penalized and fined $5,000 for a similar hit on Tampa Bay Lightning winger Jake Guentzel in October.

"I don't know," Slafkovsky said with a shrug. "I have my opinion, but I probably can't say because it's bad."

The 20-year-old practiced with the Canadiens on Monday.

Slafkovsky missed three games with an upper-body injury earlier this campaign. He's racked up seven assists and eight points in nine outings.

The 2022 first overall pick is currently playing out the final season of his entry-level deal, but the Canadiens inked him to an eight-year extension with a $7.6-million cap hit this past summer.

Montreal will take on the Calgary Flames on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.