Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves has been handed a five-game suspension without pay due to an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman, Darnell Nurse. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced the decision on Sunday, along with a hefty fine of $35,156.25 for Reaves.

The incident in question occurred during the second period at 2:38, during a tightly contested game that ultimately saw Toronto emerge victorious with a 4-3 overtime win against Edmonton on Saturday.

At the time of the hit, Nurse had possession of the puck along the end boards in his defensive zone, when Reaves made contact with him at an elevated level. The force of the hit caused Nurse’s helmet to nearly dislodge, and he suffered visible injuries, including blood on his face. The 29-year-old defenseman appeared disoriented and struggled to regain his footing, necessitating immediate medical assistance on the ice before he was removed from the game.

As a result of his actions, Reaves received a match penalty for the illegal hit, underscoring the NHL’s commitment to maintaining player safety and discipline on the ice.