The NHL has announced that Toronto Maple Leafs ahead Ryan Reaves can have a participant security listening to for his unlawful hit on Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse in Saturday’s 4-3 time beyond regulation win. Reaves was assessed a match penalty and a recreation misconduct on the play after his shoulder caught Nurse within the head because the Oilers defenseman circled behind his personal web with the puck.
Nurse hit the ice laborious after the hit and appeared surprised as he appeared round. Blood started to pour from a large minimize on Nurse’s head because the Oilers coaching employees attended to him. He remained on the ice for just a few moments earlier than he was assisted off the ice. The hit occurred on the 2:41 mark of the second interval, leaving the group in silence as Nurse left the sport and didn’t return. Reaves was escorted off the ice and had a heated verbal alternate with Oilers captain Connor McDavid earlier than he exited the sport.
The league has an attention-grabbing determination to make with regard to Reaves; the preliminary level of contact on the hit is Nurse’s head, and it will meet the definition of a blindside hit. The Division of Participant Security will contemplate an unlawful test to the pinnacle suspension however does retain the best to alter course once they overview the infraction.
Reaves does have a historical past of supplemental self-discipline throughout his profession, having final been suspended throughout the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs whereas he was a member of the Vegas Golden Knights. Reaves caught a two-game suspension for roughing and was additionally suspended one recreation throughout the 2020 postseason for an unlawful hit to the pinnacle towards Tyler Motte of the Vancouver Canucks. Reaves was additionally suspended three video games again in 2016 for boarding.
As for Nurse, his standing has but to be up to date, however he’s out proper now with an upper-body harm. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet tweeted that he’s heard from Oilers play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels that Nurse was joking with the staff’s trainers and strolling round after the sport, which is definitely encouraging.
