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

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 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.