Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly will appeal his five-game suspension from the NHL for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig, the team announced Wednesday.
Commissioner Gary Bettman will handle the appeal because Rielly’s ban was five games or fewer. Bettman has upheld all three appeals thus far this season.
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 slapshot, Rielly took offence, following Greig and sending him into the boards. Rielly was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct.
The CBA says Gary Bettman will “endeavor” to hear suspension appeals on an “expedited basis.” He determines if <a href=”https://twitter.com/NHLPlayerSafety?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@NHLPlayerSafety</a> decision is supported by “clear and convincing evidence.”<br><br>If he keeps Morgan Rielly’s suspension at five games or less, Bettman’s ruling is final.
—@reporterchris
Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe said post-game 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 served the first game of the ban by sitting out Tuesday night’s 4-1 win over the visiting St. Louis Blues.
On the season, Rielly has seven goals and 36 assists. His 43 points are fourth on the team.
Bruins’ Ullmark fined $5K US for high-sticking
The NHL fined Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark $5,000 US on Wednesday for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Michael Eyssimont.
The incident occurred during Tampa Bay’s 3-2 shootout win Tuesday night in Boston.
Eyssimont made contact with Ullmark in the crease and the goalie raised his stick into the forward’s face while he was falling backward. No penalty was assessed on the play.
Ullmark, 30, is 16-6-3 with a shutout, 2.64 goals-against average and .915 save percentage this season, his third with the Bruins. He won the Vezina and Jennings trophies in 2022-23.
The fine is the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement.