Morgan Rielly doesn’t have to be reminded what happened in his most recent game against the Ottawa Senators.
The veteran Maple Leafs defenceman knows there won’t be a repeat of his out-of-character actions involving Senators forward Ridly Greig.
We take you back to Feb. 10 in Ottawa, when Rielly cross-checked Greig on the head after the latter empathically fired the puck into the Leafs’ empty net to seal a 5-3 Sens victory.
“That’s not the way that I intended it to go, but it’s in the past and it’s an opportunity to learn from it and move forward,” Rielly said.
The National Hockey League didn’t take kindly to Rielly’s deed, suspending him for five games.
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Does Rielly expect a emotional carryover into Tuesday night, when the Leafs play host to the Senators in the first regular-season meeting in the Battle of Ontario since that game in February?
“I don’t, but whatever happens, happens,” Rielly said.
Some nine months later, Rielly has had a fine start to the 2024-25 season, recording 12 points (four goals and eight assists) in 16 games. After getting underway with Chris Tanev to his right, Rielly has been playing with Oliver Ekman-Larsson to form a productive pair.
“He has a few qualities and skills that are underrated,” Rielly said. “He has fit right in and has played extremely well. Being his partner the last little while, it has been good and a lot of fun.”
Ekman-Larsson has brought a measure of physicality that has been a bonus on the Leafs blue line.
“We knew he had it in his game, but I think we’re surprised by it a little bit,” Rielly said. “He’s extremely good defensively and has a great stick. He has a lot going for him.”
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