St. Louis Blues forward Ryan Reaves will have a phone hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Wednesday for boarding the Sharks’ Matt Tennyson in a game at Scottrade Center on Monday night.
Reaves could be suspended up to five games for the hit, on which he was given a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct, leading to a pair of Sharks goals in San Jose’s 6-3 win.
The NHL suspended Edmonton's Matt Hendricks for three games on Jan. 11 for boarding Florida's Aaron Ekblad, while Zach Sill of Washington was issued a two-game ban for boarding Boston's Adam McQuaid on Jan. 6 in a pair of similar-looking recent incidents.
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SIGN UP HERE Tennyson, who was immediately dazed after hitting his head on the glass courtesy of the check from behind by Reaves, toppled over backwards and his head again on the ice surface. After taking several moments to regain his composure and eventually get helped off of the ice, Tennyson did not return to the game after the hit which occurred midway through the first period.
After the game, coach Pete DeBoer was asked about Tennyson’s condition.
“I think OK. Not great obviously, but he’s OK,” DeBoer said. “He’s with us and he’s going to travel with us (to Colorado), but I think probably concussed and we’ll see what else. Stitched up.”
Not surprisingly, DeBoer was not pleased with the hit.
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“Those are the kind of hits we’re trying to get rid of. I’m sure the league will deal with it.”
In 49 games this season, Reaves has two goals and 40 penalty minutes. Tennyson has four points (1g, 3a) in 29 games with San Jose.
The Sharks and Blues meet once more this season at SAP Center on March 22.