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Per Kevin Weekes of ESPN, the NHL has suspended Morgan Rielly five games for the cross-check on Ridly Greig.
A suspension of six games or more could have been appealed, first to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and then to an independent arbitrator. Five or less games goes to just Bettman, and he 99 times out of 100 will not contradict his own DOPS, so it is highly probable that the five games will stand.
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Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly had his hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday. Originally, the Leafs blueliner was slated to travel to New York City for an in-person meeting, but an impending snowstorm in the Big Apple changed it to a Zoom call. It is expected, based on the invitation being in-person that Rielly will receive at least a five-game suspension for the cross-check on Ottawa winger Ridly Greig, but we will have to wait until later this afternoon or evening before the penalty is revealed.
The Leafs minus Rielly will take on the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Arena in the first game of a three-game homestand. The news other than the waiting game was on the injury and illness front. Head coach Sheldon Keefe indicated that goalie Martin Jones suffered an undisclosed injury and is considered day-to-day.
Dennis Hildeby was recalled from the AHL Toronto Marlies on Tuesday afternoon and will back up Ilya Samsonov.
On defense, the absence of Rielly has the Leafs blueline in flux. Jake McCabe will take over quarterbacking the first power play unit. Mark Giordano will play after being scratched on Saturday, and Maxime Lajoie may be in the lineup as a seventh defenseman based on some questions about availability up front.
Defenseman Conor Timmins, who may have been the logical replacement for Rielly on the top power play is out indefinitely with a bout of mononucleosis.
At forward, David Kampf returns to the lineup after a three-game absence, but Noah Gregor is questionable with the flu.
Will update when the Rielly ruling comes down.....
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