Leafs' Reaves gets match penalty for hit to head of Oilers' Nurse
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves was assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse on Saturday.
Reaves caught Nurse with the high hit early in the second period. The Oilers blue-liner was bloodied on the play. He was ruled out for the rest of the contest with an upper-body injury.
Ryan Reaves receives a 5-minute match penalty for this hit on Darnell Nurse. pic.twitter.com/hVZN9FJpRY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 17, 2024
The Maple Leafs killed the ensuing five-minute power play.
"I think it's a dangerous play," Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said postgame. "He's gotta know that (Nurse) doesn't see him coming and choose the right path there. He doesn't. It's tough to see one of your teammates on the ice like that. Dangerous play. You don't ever wanna see something like that."
Reaves has been suspended three times in his 893-game NHL career. He was most recently disciplined for two games in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs while with the Vegas Golden Knights for roughing.
The 37-year-old had zero goals, one assist, and eight penalty minutes entering Saturday's game.
Nurse has two goals and nine points in 17 contests this season and has played over 21 minutes per game.