Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly suspended five games for cross-checking Senators’ Ridly Greig

The highly anticipated decision has been made.

On Tuesday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly has been suspended five games for cross-checking Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig.

Rielly was offered an in-person hearing at the league offices in New York, and was planning on making the trip. However, the bad weather going across the northeast portion of the United States forced the 29-year-old to attend virtually.

The incident happened in the waning moments of last Saturday night’s edition of the Battle of Ontario. While the Maple Leafs’ net was empty, trailing Ottawa 4-3, Greig had a chance to seal the victory. The 21-year-old elected to wind up and take a slap shot into the open net.

Rielly wasn’t too happy with the effort, and went after Greig, cross-checking him in the head, which initiated some fisticuffs.

The action caused widespread debate across the hockey landscape. While some, including teammate Ryan Reaves, commended Rielly for standing up to the “showboating” from Greig, others believe what he did is an easily suspendable offense.

This is the first time Rielly has been served supplemental discipline, as he has never been previously fined or suspended.

The NHL DoPS had to deal with a similar situation earlier this season. Back in December, Detroit Red Wings forward David Perron, who had not been suspended before this season, was handed a six-game ban for cross-checking Senators’ defenseman Artem Zub in the head. It was a retaliatory action to when Perron saw Red Wings’ captain Dylan Larkin knocked down on the ice, despite someone else hitting Larkin.

Rielly had been playing well over the last few weeks, posting eight assists over the last seven games. In 50 games this season, the 2012 fifth-overall pick has scored seven goals and 36 assists. In his 769-game NHL career, the former Moose Jaw Warrior has posted 80 goals and 377 assists, including registering 37 points in 50 playoff games.

The Leafs’ (26-16-8) first game without Rielly is on Tuesday night, when they host the St. Louis Blues. They are currently tied for fourth in the Atlantic Division with the Detroit Red Wings, both one point back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for third. Toronto still holds the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.