Toronto Maple Leafs veteran forward Ryan Reaves was suspended Sunday for five games, the NHL announced, after an illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse on Saturday night in his club's 4-3 victory at Scotiabank Arena.

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 handed a five-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of Player Safety for a dangerous hit to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse during Saturday’s game. The suspension comes after a review of Reaves’ head-high check on Nurse, which was deemed "illegal and avoidable" by the NHLPA.