Keefe makes controversial comments in response to Rielly cross-check.

Sheldon Keefe has just poured gasoline onto the fire.

Saturday night's Battle of Ontario ended with a great deal of controversy when Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly took out Ottawa Senators Ridly Greig with a stiff cross-check to the head. The blow from Rielly came after Greig fired off a hard slap shot into an empty Maple Leafs net in the final seconds of the game, an act that Rielly and the Maple Leafs clearly took exception to.

Rielly was promptly ejected from the game as a result of his actions and could face further discipline from the National Hockey League given the circumstances, but Rielly won't be hearing any negative feedback from his team regarding the incident.

Following the conclusion of the game, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe was asked about the incident and he made his feelings crystal clear with some strongly worded comments.

"I thought it was appropriate," said Keefe when asked about Rielly's response.

"Our players have the right to react."

When asked why he felt the blow from Rielly had been appropriate, Keefe simply doubled down.

"It’s pretty apparent." said the Leafs head coach.

Unfortunately these two teams will not meet again during the regular season, so odds are we will have to wait until next season to see a rematch.