'I Thought It Was Appropriate': Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly Could Be Facing Suspension After a Game Misconduct in Loss to Senators

KANATA, Ont. — The Ottawa Senators won the season series against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a 5-3 victory at Canadian Tire Centre on Saturday. But it was how the Sens put an exclamation point on the win that will be the moment that will be most remembered.

The Maple Leafs were down 4-3 and pulled the goaltender late in regulation time when Senators forward Ridly Greig found himself with the puck on a breakaway to an empty net. Greig elected to take a slapshot to ice the game for Ottawa and Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly took exception to it.

Clearly, the Leafs were not happy with the fashion in which Greig elected to score Ottawa’s fifth goal of the game and Rielly responded by cross-checking the forward in the face along the boards.

Rielly was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct following the hit. Following the game, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was asked about his thoughts on how Rielly responded to Greig’s approach at the goal.

“I thought it was appropriate,” he responded.

When asked to clarify what he thought was appropriate, Keefe replied.

“It’s pretty apparent.”

Rielly is likely facing some supplemental discipline with Keefe acknowledging after the game that he was sure the NHL Department of Player Safety would look at it. Rielly was having a bit of a challenging night when he and Mitch Marner got crossed up in the first period when trying to break the puck out of their zone. That led to Ottawa tying the game up 1-1.

Keefe referred to play as “egregious” but didn’t feel it had any impact with Rielly’s emotions getting the better of him.

“I think he’s just reacting to a play,” Keefe said. “Their player has the right to do what he wants in that moment and our players have the right to react. That’s the emotions of the game and that’s the way not goes.”

Rielly was requested for media availability post-game but did not speak.

The longest-tenured player on the Maple Leafs, Rielly has never been fined or suspended in his 11-year NHL career. That may help in terms of leniency. But the Leafs are in a fight for a playoff spot and are already without defenseman Mark Giordano (lower-body). Up front, the Leafs played Saturday’s game without Calle Jarnkrok (knuckle) and David Kampf (undisclosed), two reliable defensive forwards.

Max Domi was on the ice when the incident with Rielly and Greig took place.

“In a situation like that we stick together, Domi said. “Obviously, we didn’t like that. It’s an emotional game. No matter what happens. Start to finish. Puck drop to the buzzer. We’re going to stick together.

“We don’t get pushed around.”

The Leafs are taking a defiant approach to the situation. Knowing these games will get a bit tougher, the way the game was officiated could provide a sneak preview as to what the Leafs could face in the coming months. The Leafs didn’t have a single power play (their first goal of the game came on a delayed penalty). Perhaps the Maple Leafs feel the change of attitude is necessary as they try to figure out their identity before the playoffs.

In the meantime, the Leafs may be without Rielly and will find out if the short-term price is worth the long-term gain.

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