Ryan Reaves violent hit on Darnell Nurse. 5 min major + ejected

LeafGrief

Shambles in my brain
Apr 10, 2015
7,914
10,199
Ottawa
Reaves will almost certainly get some games because the principal point of contact is the head and the angle of approach means the check doesn’t go through the head and into the body (which is legal). But this isn’t a blindside and Reaves isn’t jumping up into the hit. Nurse is leaning forward and Reaves is huge, which contributes to this being head contact.

If Jeannot got three for Boeser, I’d think Reaves gets one here. He’s not deliberately head hunting, he’s eligible to hit the player with the puck and his hitting form is acceptable. But he goes right through the head from an angle without catching a lot of the body. If he’d been about three inches to the left this would have been the hit of the season.

Best wishes to Nurse.
 
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mouser

Business of Hockey
Jul 13, 2006
29,610
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South Mountain
I’d guess 4 games minimum, 6 games maximum suspension.

Reaves has past history of suspensions up to two games. His head hit on Nurse includes injury, so I’d be mildly surprised if it’s less than 4 games.
 

JianYang

Registered User
Sep 29, 2017
19,492
18,829
I honestly don't see what is really wrong with this kinda hit... Its unfortunate outcome, and there is definitely head contact, but Nurse is just looking down goin around the net and leaning forward. What is Reaves suppose to do if he wants to lay the body there? Just pull up and not because Nurse is skating around the net with his head down? Fast pace game, will always be situations like his that walk a fine line that can turn it to go either way.

He'll get suspended though for sure.

Poor edmonton down to just 2 NHL defence men now.

You're battling uphill just based on the head being the principal point of contact.

This hit checks alot of bad boxes so the question at this point is not if but how many, and rightfully so.
 
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Bradely

Registered User
Sep 17, 2021
3,764
3,721
He was going for a huge hit, but doesn't seem to try and get the head.

The thing is. He did get the head, and looks like he got it first. That should and likely will be a suspension; fully deserved.
:huh: .....
Am I crazy? Headshot was definitely no good, but no charge, no jump + nurse being crouched over not protecting himself. 2 games maybe?
:nod:
 
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crump

~ ~ (ړײ) ~ ~
Feb 26, 2004
15,163
7,076
Ontariariario
That was a heavy hit. Hit his head, so yes, he’s going to get some games. Repeat offender so I bet 5 at least. He wanted to decimate him, just not the way it worked out. Didn’t throw an elbow, or jump. It’s a game of inches, so close to being a solid great hit. Ended up being pretty brutal.
 

REALTALK81

Pro Log Driver
Nov 16, 2009
1,109
487
Blindside on a player with his head down. He needs 5 to 10 but who knows with the DOPS. Might be a $5K fine.
 

uncleben

Global Moderator
Dec 4, 2008
14,884
9,958
Acton, Ontario
That was a heavy hit. Hit his head, so yes, he’s going to get some games. Repeat offender so I bet 5 at least. He wanted to decimate him, just not the way it worked out. Didn’t throw an elbow, or jump. It’s a game of inches, so close to being a solid great hit. Ended up being pretty brutal.
Just fwiw, he is not considered a "repeat offender" by the CBA ("suspended within the past 18 months")

His history of supplemental discipline can and will certainly factor, but the won't be recorded as a "repeat offender" and won't be fined as such (repeat offenders essentially lose twice as much money while suspended)
 

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