Senators’ Ridly Greig won’t face suspension for cross-check: source

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TORONTO — Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig will not face any supplemental discipline after delivering a high cross-check to John Tavares of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game 1 of the Battle of Ontario, according to a source familiar with the decision.

Sunday’s game produced 52 minutes in penalties, but did not include any infractions the NHL’s department of player safety believed rose to the level of a fine or suspension.

Greig was initially assessed a five-minute cross-checking major penalty after getting his stick up and striking Tavares in the neck or head area as the Leafs player finished a hit on him early in the second period. Following a video review, referees Brian Pochmara and Garret Rank reduced Greig’s penalty to a two-minute cross-checking minor.

Ridley Greig received a two-minute minor for cross-checking on this play on Tavares.

(📹 ESPN) pic.twitter.com/kGJSQmLflh

— BarDown (@BarDown) April 21, 2025

The Leafs scored on the ensuing power play — one of three man-advantage goals they produced during a 6-2 win.

Toronto coach Craig Berube held up five fingers on the bench during the penalty review, seemingly lobbying for Greig’s cross-checking infraction to be a five-minute penalty. He later yelled “call the league!” to reporters as he walked off the post-game podium after being asked about the sequence.

“That’s not my call,” Berube said multiple times.

“The referees and the league will look at things and make the calls they make. We’re not going to focus on that. We’ve got to focus on what we need to do the next game. It’s the same as like, I thought they made some attempts at our goalie and sliding into him and things like that, but that’s not for us to worry about. We’ve got to focus on playing. We’ve got to focus on ourselves and what we need to do. The league will look into that stuff.”

Greig had an effective night for the Senators, scoring one of the team’s goals and consistently getting under the skin of Leafs players. At one point, he almost ended up in the Toronto bench and saw Auston Matthews grab his stick and break it. During a rush late in the third period, he swept the feet out from Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz after being stick checked by Mitch Marner.

You just know Greig took advantage of that opportunity. 💀 pic.twitter.com/b1YZQv15fG

— Everyday Sens (@EverydaySens) April 21, 2025

There’s a history between the Leafs and Greig, too, after he famously hammered a slapshot into an empty net during a February 2024 game and saw Toronto’s Morgan Rielly suspended five games for cross-checking him as he celebrated the goal.

While the Leafs didn’t necessarily leave the rink expecting to see Greig disciplined for his cross-check on Tavares in Game 1, they weren’t happy with the play. But they’ve made it a point at the outset of these playoffs to try to avoid getting drawn into any unnecessary penalties by seeking retribution.

“I’m just going to let the refs and the league handle it,” Tavares said. “I’m just going to compete hard and try to fight for every inch you can and, whatever way calls go, games go, you fight through it and you just continue to play.”

(Photo of Ridly Greig celebrating his Game 1 goal: Mark Blinch / NHLI via Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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