Senators’ Greig: Slap shot occurred in ‘warmth of the second’

OTTAWA, Ontario — Ridly Greig, talking for the primary time for the reason that Ottawa Senators heart was cross-checked to the face by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly, summed up the following fallout by saying he “did not assume it might get this far.”

However three days after the incident, and recent off Ottawa’s 6-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday evening, Greig held court docket at his locker stall, taking questions on not solely his determination to fireplace a slap shot into an open internet in opposition to the Maple Leafs however how he felt the NHL responded.

“I’ve tried to remain offline the previous couple of days,” Greig mentioned. “Everybody’s going to have an opinion on it. They’re most likely going to like it or hate it. It would not matter to me.”

Earlier within the day, Rielly was suspended 5 video games by the league’s Division of Participant Security for the cross-check. The hit got here within the moments following Greig’s short-distance objective with 5.1 seconds remaining in what was a 5-3 Ottawa victory.

“In brief, this isn’t a hockey play. That is an intentional, forceful strike to an opponent’s head, utilizing a stick as a weapon to precise retribution on an opponent effectively after a objective is scored,” NHL Participant Security mentioned in its ruling on Tuesday.

Greig, who left the choice to “the league,” agreed with a reporter in that Rielly caught him off guard after the objective.

“A little bit bit,” Greig mentioned. “I do not assume you are ever anticipating a man to cross-check you within the face. However I am additionally unsure if he meant to try this.”

Usually, with empty-net objectives — an indication the sport’s final result has been determined — the scoring crew merely pushes the puck into the web or maybe tries a wrist shot, in order to not present up the shedding opponent. Very hardly ever do gamers wind up with a slap shot, particularly so near the crease.

“It was rather a lot adrenaline,” Greig mentioned when requested what his ideas have been when he selected the slap shot. “It was the warmth of the second, the warmth of the sport. It was an emotional recreation. I simply obtained a breakaway, and I assumed I would bury it.”

It clearly set off the Maple Leafs, even past Rielly.

“We clearly did not just like the end result on the empty-netter,” Toronto captain John Tavares mentioned Saturday. “So, we’ll stick collectively and stand our floor when vital.”

Within the win over the Blue Jackets, Greig scored his ninth objective of the season, a part of a Senators offensive surge.

Brady Tkachuk recorded the second hat trick of his profession, and Claude Giroux added a short-handed objective and two assists as Ottawa gained its fourth straight recreation.

“We would have liked everyone to step up, and I simply hope we will construct off of it,” Tkachuk mentioned. “The final couple of video games, we have had plenty of appears however have not been in a position to bury it. Tonight was a steppingstone, and we simply need to maintain it going.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.