Ryan Reaves enters heavyweight tilt vs. Blue Jackets’ Mathieu Olivier for 1st fight of season

Reaves had not participated in a fight all season, with some calling into question what his purpose is in the Maple Leafs’ lineup, with just two assists on the season. There wasn’t an inciting incident but it may have fired the Maple Leafs, who quickly gained a power play shortly thereafter.

As for the fight, Olivier dropped Reaves early, but he got back up and the two players landed a number of crushing blows, before the referees intervened. Reaves seemed to appreciate Olivier for taking on the fight, as both players headed to the penalty box.

“Yeah, it’s the longest I’ve gone without one. I would like one, for sure,” Reaves said to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox on January 14. “I mean, that’s what I’m here for. Or part of the reason I’m here. To not have one this late in season is new for me. So, I would definitely like one or two soon.”

Reaves previously challenged Philadelphia Flyers forward Garnet Hathway to a fight and Montreal Canadiens enforcer Arber Xhekaj appeared to decline an invitation on Saturday night, after the first period, which may have provided the Leafs with some inadvertent momentum, rallying back for a 7-3 victory.

“ When you’re a younger guy and you do that to somebody who’s been in the league for that long, maybe that guy’s not going to give you one when you need one,” Reaves said of Xhekaj on Monday. “ Anytime there’s a fight now somebody needs some momentum. If he needed momentum and asked me and I give it to him, then I expect it back and I would have obliged if he would have done it there.”

Reaves almost scored on his first shift out of the box, and perhaps it may have reinvigorated a more complete effort overall. Who do you think won the fight? We’ll let you be the judge.