Leafs' Ryan Reaves shockingly enters the Oilers locker room during the third period after ejection

Leafs' Ryan Reaves was given a match penalty after his dangerous hit on Oilers' Darnell Nurse, and later in the third period, he entered the Oilers locker room.

The score was tied 1-1 in the second period, and Ryan Reaves was furiously forechecking as Darnell Nurse was trying to clear the puck from behind the net of the Oilers.

At a turning point in the game, Reaves committed to a check and landed a hit that was dangerous and reckless on a vulnerable Nurse.

Reaves received a match penalty for an illegal check to the head on the play, and Nurse exited the game with what the Oilers later termed an upper-body injury.

After the fact, Reaves owned up to it. He even went so far as to visit the Oilers' locker room in the third period to apologize in person to Nurse.

Edmonton reporter Jack Michaels reported that Nurse seemed to be in good spirits after the game, joking with trainers post-game, which may signal some optimism for his recovery.

That should draw additional attention from the NHL's Department of Player Safety, which will likely impose a suspension.

Reaves' hit wasn't one of those ones that's perceived to be harsh by the league on Leafs players; he does have a case for supplemental discipline in this one.

The bigger issue at this time is the place of Reaves in the Maple Leafs lineup. With only a few fights under Craig Berube, there's some question as to why he dresses if he's not going to play the part of enforcer.

He can bring some energy with his physicality, but guys like that are often one step from over the line, and that's what happened here.

Past dealings with the Department of Player Safety will likely be considered, as well, with the league perhaps looking to make an example out of Reaves.

For a Leafs team that has often danced the line between being hard to play against and undisciplined, the mistake was a harsh reminder of how quickly that line can get blurred.

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