Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltender Ilya Samsonov (35) makes a save as Morgan Rielly (44) and New York Islanders' Kyle Palmieri (21) look for the rebound during third period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Monday, February 5, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
NEW YORK – The NHL has suspended Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly five games for his cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig.
Rielly cross-checked Greig up high after the Senators forward fired a slap shot into an empty net with 5.1 seconds left in Ottawa’s 5-3 win over Toronto on Saturday night.
Rielly was given a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct.
The NHL’s decision came down just before Toronto hosted the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.
Rielly will miss most of a stretch of six games in 10 days for the Maple Leafs, who are trying to hold on to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Rielly’s suspension matches the longest of the season. Detroit forward David Perron was suspended six games in December for his cross-check of Senators defenceman Artem Zub.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 13, 2024.
