Reaves was issued a match penalty in the second period for an illegal check to the head of the Edmonton defenseman.
The Toronto Maple Leafs found themselves trailing 2-1 in the second period when Ryan Reaves targeted Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. The play culminated in Reaves delivering a hit to an unsuspecting Nurse, who was left bloodied on the ice and unable to continue.
Despite losing Reaves to a major penalty, the Leafs managed to kill off the infraction and ultimately secured a 4-3 overtime victory against the Oilers on Saturday.
Reaves was given a match penalty and immediately ejected from the contest. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube declined to comment specifically on the hit, admitting he hadn’t reviewed it. However, he emphasized the significance of the penalty kill in achieving the win.
"I thought it was good," Berube said. "I mean we all wish Darnell well. We don't like to see that on anybody. But we knew it was a big moment in the game, you know, getting a kill. And they did an excellent job."
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Forward Bobby McMann, who ended a four-game scoring drought with two goals, reflected on the incident and offered a perspective on Reaves’ actions.
"That's the side of the game that you never want to see," McMann said. "Guys are playing hard. I don't think he was trying to finish high like that. I know he wasn't. He's just playing it hard and trying to get through guys, trying to win a hockey game. And sometimes you clip a guy the wrong way. And it was nice to see him get up and skate off there. It's not nice to see, but hopefully he's doing all right."
Matthew Knies, who also scored in the win, compared the play to a recent collision he had with Nic Dowd of the Washington Capitals, which left Dowd with a bloody nose.
"Getting to know Revo, it's definitely not his intention to hurt anybody," Knies said. "Plays like that happen. You know, it happened with me in Washington. You know, it's unfortunate, and you hope he's okay. But, yeah, it's not something you want to see."
Knies’ comparison, however, doesn’t align with the severity of Reaves’ hit. The Oilers, clearly upset, voiced their disapproval.
"You never want to see that," said Oilers winger Adam Henrique. "We all know that things happen. The game’s fast. Things happen quick. But you never want to see that. Just avoid the hit. I mean, we’re professional athletes. We’re able to make those decisions quick in our head. You know when a guy is vulnerable or in a bad spot."
The NHL’s Department of Player Safety is expected to review the incident in the coming days.