Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves has been suspended five games for an illegal check to the head against Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Sunday.
Nurse was knocked out of Saturday’s game after taking the hit from Reaves early in the second period.
After seeing their teammate bloodied and dazed by the hit, multiple members of the Oilers questioned why Reaves didn’t do more to ensure the collision was delivered more safely.
That was a pretty bad hit. I’m surprised it’s only 5 games considering his disciplinary history.
It’s really intense at full speed. Probably more careless than intentional but the suspension is deserved for sure.
Would help if Nurse would fucking keep his head up maybe, but five games is fair. I was twelve when I learned the lesson that you don’t skate in that location like that with your head buried like his was. Unless you are ready to count stars, and a whole lot of them. His coach should give him another kick in the head for that when he returns.