Did Ridly Greig Cross the Line With Slapshot Into Empty Net?

Things got chippy in Ottawa, where the Senators defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 on Saturday night, taking the season series 3-1.

Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig just threw a lit match on an old dried out NHL rivalry. And in Ottawa, he may not have to buy another drink ever again.

The Senators polished off the Battle of Ontario for another season on Saturday night with a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs  

Shane Pinto led the charge with a goal and two assists, and the Sens closed the season series against Toronto with a 3-1 mark.

What everyone will be talking about this week is the so-called code, the unwritten rules of the NHL, 

In the opinion of the Leafs, specifically defenceman Morgan Rielly, Greig crossed that line by taking a slap shot on an empty net goal that salted away an Ottawa victory.

Greig did seem to be sticking it to the Leafs the way an NBA star commonly does when he dunks in someone’s face. Greig probably would have hung from the rim if there were one. It was an emotional win and it’s also quite likely that Greig was still steamed after being knocked down by a high, uncalled cross check three minutes earlier that left him on the ice for several moments in front of Toronto’’s net.  

Greig probably expected a face wash, a shove and some angry words.

But Rielly’s answer was to skate over and cross check Greig in the head  Rielly got a five minute major and a game misconduct and likely faces a suspension.

It’s tricky to analyze whether something is against the unwritten rules when there’s nothing written down to reference. Unwritten rules are funny that way. The referees didn’t think it was unsportsmanlike or they would have written Greig up for a minor. Cross checks to the head are far easier to judge  

In any event, Greig will likely be booed by Leaf fans, Daniel Alfredsson style, for the rest of his career. But after dunking in the Leafs’ face, he’s going to be an Ottawa favourite for a long time.