Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves has been suspended for five games without pay for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenceman Darnell Nurse.

Reaves was assessed a match penalty for an illegal check to the head at 2:41 of the second period and was ejected from the game. The Leafs forward took five or six strides before leveling Nurse as he skated around his own net with the puck.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves has been suspended five games for an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced its ruling Sunday following a hearing with Reaves earlier in the day.