In a thrilling start to the Battle of Ontario, Ottawa Senators’ forward Ridly Greig will escape punishment for a high cross-check he delivered to John Tavares during Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. A reliable source confirmed that the NHL's Department of Player Safety won’t be taking further action.

Sunday's matchup was heated, resulting in a jaw-dropping 52 minutes of penalties, yet none escalated to the level deemed worthy of fines or suspensions by league officials.

The Incident Unfolds

The controversial moment happened early in the second period when Greig struck Tavares in the neck or head area while finishing a hit. Initially sanctioned with a five-minute major penalty, referees reviewed the play and downgraded it to a two-minute minor penalty for cross-checking.

This decision proved pivotal, as the Leafs capitalized on the ensuing power play, scoring one of their three goals during the night, leading to a resounding 6-2 victory.

Questions of Fairness

Controversy continued as Toronto's coach, Craig Berube, expressed frustration over the penalty review process. During the review, he desperately held up five fingers in the hopes of amplifying Greig's punishment and was overheard demanding, “Call the league!” as he addressed reporters post-game.

“That’s not my call,” Berube commented, reiterating that officials and the league would make their decisions. Despite the heated exchange, he emphasized the importance of focusing on future games rather than dwelling on referee decisions.

A Fiery Performance by Greig

Greig had a standout performance, not only scoring a goal but also agitating his opponents throughout the game. At one point, he nearly collided with the Leafs' bench, where Auston Matthews was seen breaking his stick in frustration. Later, during an intense moment in the third period, Greig managed to trip up goalie Anthony Stolarz after getting tangled up with Mitch Marner.

A Bitter Rivalry

There's no love lost between the Leafs and Greig; a notable incident from February 2024 saw Toronto's Morgan Rielly suspended for five games after cross-checking Greig during a goal celebration.

Although the Leafs didn’t expect any disciplinary action against Greig this time, the incident left them unsettled. They’re determined to avoid retaliation penalties as they navigate the playoffs.

Moving Forward

Tavares voiced a calm perspective, stating, “I’m just going to let the refs and the league handle it. I’ll compete hard and fight for every inch. Regardless of the calls, you’ve got to keep playing.”