A recent spate of injury-causing, dubious hits is prompting calls — led by Montreal Canadiens head coach Guy Carbonneau — for the NHL to better protect players from head shots.

“The league has to do something,” Carbonneau said after practice yesterday. “This makes no sense to me. Blows to the head shouldn’t be part of hockey.”

Carbonneau pointed to a hit against Habs forward Andrei Kostitsyn by Phoenix Coyotes defenceman Kurt Sauer, one on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matt Stajan by Boston Bruins defenceman Dennis Wideman and one on Carolina Hurricanes rookie Brandon Sutter by Doug Weight of the New York Islanders as recent examples of dangerous blows levelled at players in vulnerable positions.

In each case, no penalty was assessed.

But whether the hits were clean according to the rulebook isn’t the issue for Carbonneau; the risk of serious injury is.

“People said [Sutter] had his head down, but he didn’t have the puck,” Carbonneau said. “I think there’s a lack of respect out there.

“I’ve held a gun in my hands before, but I’ve never used it to shoot anyone. It’s the same thing on the ice.”