Reaves was assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head at 2:41 of the second period and was ejected from the game. The Leafs forward took five or six strides before leveling Nurse as he skated around his own net with the puck.

Toronto Maple Leafs veteran forward Ryan Reaves was suspended on Sunday for five games, the NHL announced, after an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse on Saturday night in his club's 4-3 victory at Scotiabank Arena.

Oilers captain Connor McDavid pleaded with referees while trainers attended to Nurse on the ice as play was halted to clean up the blood on the spot of the hit. Reaves was handed a match penalty for the illegal check to the head and immediately ejected from the game.

Reaves was assessed a match penalty and a game misconduct. He exchanged words with Edmonton captain Connor McDavid before heading down the tunnel.

Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse was reportedly spotted in the locker room moving around and making jokes with team staff after exiting Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs due to taking a check to the head from opposing forward Ryan Reaves.

Last night, Ryan Reaves of the Toronto Maple Leafs laid a controversial hit on Darnell Nurse that sidelined the Edmonton Oilers defenseman during a heated game.

Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse was bloodied and had to be helped to the locker room after taking a hit to the head from Toronto forward Ryan Reaves.

The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves has been suspended for five games after delivering an illegal hit to the head in Saturday’s game between the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs.