Senators’ Ridly Greig Re-ignites the Battle of Ontario?

Feeling Greig showed up his team, the Maple Leafs captain and top defenseman’s actions will now likely face a suspension of five games or more due to the NHL’s Department of Player Safety offering Rielly an in-person at a date to be determined.

As for the Maple Leafs, the absence of Rielly leaves his club in a precarious spot in a tight playoff race.

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, during his postgame availability, told TSN’s Claire Hanna, “I thought it was appropriate,” adding, “It’s pretty apparent” when discussing Rielly’s reaction.

When asked if Rielly’s misdirected pass attempt, which led to the Senators’ late first-period game-tying goal by Claude Giroux, had any effect on the Maple Leafs d-man at the game’s conclusion, Keefe responded, “No, I think he’s reacting to a play. Their player (Ridly Greig) has the right to do what he wants in the moment. Players have the right to react. It’s the motions of the game. That’s the way it goes.”

Greig, who plays on the edge, is quickly becoming a Senators’ fan favourite in his “superpest” role. The freshman forward currently leads all NHL rookies with a plus-19, posting a plus-4 Saturday in a personal-high 19 minutes of ice time while registering eight goals and 11 assists in 38 games.

Senators’ interim head coach Jacques Martin came to his player’s defence, “I mean, whether he pushes it, shoots it, I mean it shouldn’t matter.” Additionally, bestowing praise on Greig, who Martin put on the ice, along with linemates Shane Pinto and Vlad Tarasenko, who each netted a goal on the night. Pinto finished with a career-best three points (one goal, two assists).

“I just thought that he (Greig) was strong defensively. And you know, I think when you look, I think he finished a plus-four. So to me, that’s an indication that he’s pretty responsible. You know, he’s physical, and I think what I like is that he’s basically a centre. And having him out there, if a centre gets kicked out, then we have another centre that takes some face offs,” Martin said.

36-year-old Claude Giroux has seen a lot in his 1,243 total games played and wasn’t surprised by Rielly’s misstep.

“Yeah, I mean, the emotions sometimes will get to you, and you know, it was an intense game, and all the fans were involved. You know, sometimes that kind of stuff happens. Obviously, I don’t like see him (Greig) hit in the face there. But, you know, there’s not much really to say sometimes. That kind of stuff happens,” Giroux explained.

Greig’s linemate offered up a bit of humour on the entire situation, “”Rids” play, it was pretty funny. So yeah, that was interesting,” Pinto noted.

“It was just a tough play all around. So I mean, you know, they thought they had to do that. And I just hope I Ridly is okay.”

Senators’ Josh Norris, who broke a 14-game goalless drought, also expressed his opinion on the incident.

“Yeah, I mean, you never really know what “Greigor” is gonna do. I mean, I loved it. But I’m sure, obviously, if we’re on the other side of that, I don’t know if we would like it either.  I didn’t really like the retaliation, but I understand their frustration, but it’s over with, and I guess it was entertaining.”

With the season series ending in favour of the Senators three games to one, the two teams will have to wait until next season to get re-acquainted with what’s hoped to be a reinvigorated Battle of Ontario.