Maple Leafs' Reaves handed 5-game suspension, fine for illegal check to the head

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

Reaves was also fined $35,156.25 US, the NHL's department of player safety announced on Sunday.

The incident took place at 2:38 of the second period in Toronto's 4-3 overtime win on Saturday.

Nurse had the puck along the end boards in his own zone when Reaves came in and hit him high.

Nurse's helmet almost came off and he had blood on his face. The 29-year-old also looked to be in a daze as he struggled to get up and was immediately given medical attention before exiting the game.

Reaves was assessed a match penalty for the hit.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Reaves's suspension is long but he accepts the NHL's decision.

"It's a lot, but at the same time I get it, too," Berube said Monday in Toronto. "They've come down hard on hits to the head. It's not like Reavo tried to hit him in the head. It's a tough play … tough play.

"The league is going to do what they think is the right thing to do. There's nothing we can do about that."

'He's a clean player'

Berube defended Reaves and said his forward did not intend to injure Nurse.

"His type of game, sometimes things happen. It's not like he's a dirty player," Berube said. "He's a clean player, in my opinion, for his role, and there was no intention of him doing that. It just happened."

Also Monday, Oilers bench boss Kris Knoblauch says he expects Nurse to be out five to 10 days.

"Obviously there's a big scare there, just when it happened on the ice," Knoblauch said. "But since then he's progressed really well, he's doing as good as he can. We'll take our time and make sure that he's ready when he does to return.

"As a coach, you just wish it never happened, and I guess no punishment could be severe enough in our opinion," Knoblauch said. "But I think the NHL handled it well and we're obviously just worried about Darnell and wish that hadn't happened, but it is what it is."

Nurse did not participate in Edmonton's morning skate Monday ahead of a meeting with the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

Defenceman Josh Brown, who was called up from American Hockey League affiliate Bakersfield, was expected to make his Edmonton debut.

Jarnkrok, Matthews injury updates

On the Maple Leafs' injury front, centre Calle Jarnkrok is out month to month following groin and sports hernia surgery, the team announced.

The 33-year-old Swede has yet to suit up this season after beginning the campaign on long-term injured reserve Oct. 7.

Jarnkrok provided some offence in a bottom-6 role last season with 10 goals and 21 points in 52 games.

Berube also told reporters during a media availability at the club's practice facility that star centre Auston Matthews will miss a seventh consecutive game Wednesday against Vegas with an undisclosed upper-body injury.

Toronto's captain hasn't played since Nov. 3 and has been listed as day-to-day ever since. The Leafs are then off until Sunday when the Utah Hockey Club visits Scotiabank Arena.

The Leafs are also minus veteran winger Max Pacioretty, who sustained a lower-body injury Nov. 9 against Montreal and is considered week to week.