Leafs' Ryan Reaves suspended 5 games for illegal check

Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves was suspended five games without pay following his illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse on Saturday night in Toronto.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced the punishment on Sunday after his disciplinary hearing. Reaves will forfeit $35,156.25, based on his average annual salary, under terms of the collective bargaining agreement. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assist Fund.

Reaves hit Nurse in the head with his shoulder as the latter was attempting to skate out from behind the net during the second period of the Maple Leafs' 4-3 overtime win over the Oilers. Nurse was bleeding following the exchange and did not return to the game.

Reaves received a five-minute major penalty for an illegal check to the head and game misconduct.

Reaves, 37, has been suspended three times during his NHL career.

He has one assist and 23 penalty minutes in 16 games this season.

Reaves has totaled 136 points (63 goals, 73 assists) and 1,095 penalty minutes in 893 career games with six different teams.

--Field Level Media