Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves Hit With Big Suspension for Headshot on Darnell Nurse

Sunday, November 17, 2024 ,

The verdict is in. Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves has paid a heavy price for his predatory headshot on Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse, as NHL Player Safety has hit Reaves with a 5-game suspension.

Reaves drove his shoulder into Nurse's head during the second period of the Leafs' overtime win against the Oilers Saturday night. Nurse's head snapped violently from the blow, and he was bleeding quite a bit from his face. Reaves received a match penalty.

"First, the head is clearly the main point of contact," said the DoPS in its ruling. "It is the head that absorbs the vast majority of the force. 

"Second, the head contact on this check is avoidable. Reaves mistimes this play, choosing an angle of approach that cuts across the front of Nurse, missing his core and making his head the main point of contact."

In addition, the fact that Reaves had been suspended three times in the past and fined an additional two times over the course of his career, led to the five-game verdict. 

Reaves has one point in 16 games this season with the Leafs, playing less than eight minutes per night. He's accumulated 23 penalty minutes while also handing out 44 hits. 

The good news is that Nurse walked out of the dressing room under his own power. But with a head injury, extreme caution must be taken. The Oilers blueline, already a trouble spot, will be under extreme duress to compete for as long as he is out of the lineup. 

Unfortunately for Edmonton, they're facing an extremely busy week on the schedule, with back-to-back games on Monday and Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, then another two games before the week is out, against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday and the New York Rangers on Saturday night. 



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