Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly suspended 5 games for cross-check - ESPN

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has been suspended five games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig on Saturday night.

Rielly hit Greig with his stick after the Senators rookie scored an empty-net goal on a slap shot from close distance with 5.1 seconds remaining.

«In short, this is not a hockey play. This is an intentional, forceful strike to an opponent's head, using a stick as a weapon to exact retribution on an opponent well after a goal is scored,» NHL Player Safety said in its ruling.

Rielly, 29, had no on-ice disciplinary history in his 11-year professional career. Greig wasn't injured on the play.

The hearing was scheduled to be in-person at the NHL's New York City offices on Tuesday but a snowstorm forced the parties to meet remotely.

An in-person hearing gives the Department of Player Safety the option of suspending a player for six or more games, but Rielly only received a five-game ban. The length of the ban also means that only NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will hear the appeal should Rielly choose to fight it.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Rielly will forfeit $195,312.50. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident happened after Greig's empty-net goal — with untypical emphasis for the NHL — made it 5-3. Instead of sliding the puck in for the score, Greig blasted a slap slot from between the circles to the delight of the home fans, but not the Maple Leafs.

As Greig glided along the boards in celebration, he noticed Rielly skating towards him «with purpose and at some distances,» according to the Department of Player Safety ruling.