Sens prospect cross-checks Leafs prospect after goal; was it payback for the Rielly/Greig incident?
For the last week, Toronto Maple Leaf fans have heard nothing but whining from Ottawa Senators fans about Morgan Rielly and his cross-check to Ridly Greig. Rielly not only received a major and a game misconduct, but he also got a five-game suspension for his actions. However, on Friday night in the AHL, late in the second period, there was a similar incident between the Leafs and Sens' AHL affiliates, the Belleville Senators and Toronto Marlies - only this time, it was the Sens who did the cross-checking after a goal.
Marlies forward Zach Solow scored with just over two minutes to play in the second period to tie the game. Immediately after he scored, Senators prospect Tyler Kleven delivered a vicious cross-check on Solow, sending him to the ice. The cross-check led to a melee behind the Senators' net that had everyone involved and throwing punches. Kleven only received two minutes for cross-checking and two minutes for roughing. Granted, it was not a hit to the head the same way Rielly's stick rode up off the shoulder of Greig and connected with his face and neck, but if you've ever played hockey, you know a cross-check in any area doesn't feel good.
Similar to Rielly's cross-check, Kleven's was after the play and seemed to be a revenge shot. The difference is that Greig was looking at Rielly when he delivered the shot whereas Solow was not expecting it from Kleven at all. It's unclear what caused Kleven to cross-check Solow so violently.
Since Sens fans are apparently experts when it comes to supplemental discipline, how many games should Kleven be suspended for? 1 game? 2 games? None, since he's not a Leaf? I'm sure Sens fans will be defending his actions like no tomorrow, saying that Solow probably deserved it or that he started it.
Do I think it's worthy of a suspension? Not necessarily. I think Rielly should have been suspended, but it was certainly not worthy of anything close to five games. Clearly the Battle of Ontario is alive and well at both the NHL and AHL levels, but it will be interesting to see if the AHL decides some supplemental discipline is necessary for Kleven after this one.
| POLL | ||
17 FEVRIER | 521 ANSWERS Sens prospect cross-checks Leafs prospect after goal; was it payback for the Rielly/Greig incident? Do you think this was worth a suspension for Sens prospect Tyler Kleven? | ||
| Yes | 384 | 73.7 % |
| No | 137 | 26.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
