The Leafs could be excused for feeling frustrated on Saturday night. In a game where they largely outplayed their Ontario rivals, they couldn't draw so much as a single penalty. Then, in a one goal game, a classic Tim Stützle dive cost the Leafs valuable time that could have been used to tie the game.
With the clock winding down and the Leafs desperately pressing for a goal, the puck squirted out to Sens forward Ridly Greig. In alone on an empty net, Greig decided to agitate the Leafs by blasting a slap shot from between the hash marks. Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly took exception to the play, chased Greig down and threw a nasty cross-check into the side of his head, kicking off a large scrum. Rielly was ejected, and the Leafs dropped yet another game to a bottom dwelling team.
Does Rielly deserve to be suspended? Maybe. That was a pretty nasty cross-check after all, late in a game and after the whistle too. Don't be surprised when the number of games he gets exceeds more egregious plays from this season though. He'll no doubt have to pay the Leafs tax like Jason Spezza and Auston Matthews before him. My prediction? 4 games.
