Forward Ryan Reaves was suspended for two games by the NHL’s Department of Players Safety after receiving a match penalty in Game One. Reaves has assessed the penalty after he violently threw Ryan Graves to the ice. The Vegas Golden Knights will have to make do without their physical forward until he returns.
Vegas’ Ryan Reaves has been suspended for two games for Roughing/ Unsportsmanlike Conduct on Colorado’s Ryan Graves. https://t.co/26pAMLIJW5
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 31, 2021
Ryan Reaves Suspended Two Games
Reaves is not a large source of offence for the Golden Knights, as many fans and teams are aware. He is in the lineup for his toughness, physicality, and ability to get under opponents’ skin. Even so, this penalty was a horrible decision, as it injured Graves and prevents Reaves from playing the full series. Reaves has yet to post a point in the playoffs after a seven games series. He also only averages about 10 minutes of ice time per game and had nearly as many penalty minutes as games played in the regular season. As a whole, Vegas is a very physical team, and Reaves led them in hits by a significant margin.
Looking Ahead
Reaves being suspended would level the playing field between the two teams, so to speak. With “enforcer” Nazem Kadri still serving his suspension for the Colorado Avalanche, both of these players will be unavailable. If the Knights still want to play a check-heavy style of hockey, other players from the team will have to fill his shoes.
However, if they are smart, they will understand playing this style will lose them the series. After coming from a hard-fought, physical series against the Minnesota Wild, the last thing Vegas wants to do is check. In addition, Colorado is a faster and more skilled team than Minnesota, coming off a week of rest. A tired, physical Vegas team cannot and will not beat a well-rested, fast Colorado squad. The Knights must try to match the Avalanche in skill and speed if they want any chance of winning the series.
