Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was suspended five games by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday for a controversial cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig.
Rielly, 29, was offered an in-person hearing, which took place Tuesday in New York. In-person hearings are reserved for when the NHL is considering discipline of six games or longer.
The incident occurred Saturday with six seconds remaining in Ottawa's 5-3 win over Toronto. After Greig scored an empty-net goal with a slap shot, Rielly took offense, sending Greig into the boards. Rielly was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct.
Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said postgame that his player's actions were "appropriate." The league disagreed.
"This play occurs well after the goal has been scored, late in the game with the score out of reach and for the sole purpose of retribution," a Department of Player Safety official said in an explanation video.
"... Rielly pursues Greig for some time and has sufficient opportunity to choose to engage him in a different manner, or ensure that this cross-check is delivered solely to the body. Instead, fully in control of this play at all times, Rielly chooses to raise his stick to the level of Greig's head and neck, approaching from the side and delivering a forceful strike to the face with his stick well after the goal has been scored.
"In short, this is not a hockey play."
This marks Rielly's first discipline of any kind in an 11-year, 769-game career. He will miss Tuesday night's game against the St. Louis Blues, additional home games against the Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks and road games at St. Louis and the Arizona Coyotes. He is eligible to return Feb. 22 at the Vegas Golden Knights.
On the season, Rielly has seven goals and 36 assists. His 43 points are fourth on the team.
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