Ryan Reaves gets drilled from behind and makes Senators player answer the bell

PUBLICATION

Liam McCormick
September 22, 2024 (6:31 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

In the first game of the preseason, Leafs forward Ryan Reaves put the NHL on notice that he's not done fighting at 37 years old.

Mid way through the second period, Ryan Reaves was drilled hard into the boards from behind by Senators defenceman Donovan Sebrango. Reaves turned around to check out who boarded him, started jawing, and surprisingly Sebrango accepted the fight.

Right off the bat, it looked like Reaves had decades more of fighting experience than Sebrango. Reaves grabbed hold with his left hand, and only had to throw a few body shots and a jab to throw Sebrango off balance and crashing to the ice.

After the fight, Reaves stood over top of Sebrango continuing to chirp him. Even as referees tried to separate the two, Reaves was relentless in presumably letting Sebrango know who's boss. Reaves skated away with a smirk, while Sebrango was still under a pile of referees.

The Leafs and Senators rivalry is starting to really take off as another great Canadian provincial rivalry in the last year. The Senators always seem to beat the Leafs despite being a worse off team, which sparks the fists to start flying near the end of every game. Memorably last year, Morgan Rielly drilled Senators forward Ridly Greig with a cross check after an empty net goal.

In this preseason game too, it seems the Senators young roster got the best of the Leafs, who mostly dressed their NHLers. Midway through the second period, the fight didn't sway the momentum of the game, as the Senators scored two goals to take a 3-1 lead. The Senators are long overdue to make a playoff push, and if they can finally start winning some games against division rivals, they may just take that step.