Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly will appeal his five-game suspension from the NHL for a cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig, the team announced Wednesday.
Commissioner Gary Bettman will handle the appeal because Rielly’s ban was five games or fewer. Bettman has upheld all three appeals thus far this season.
The incident occurred Saturday with six seconds remaining in Ottawa’s 5-3 win over Toronto. After Greig scored an empty-net goal with a slapshot, Rielly took offence, following Greig and sending him into the boards. Rielly was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking and a game misconduct.
The CBA
