Ducks’ Gudas Shines Before Maple Leafs Rematch
The Controversial Situation Surrounding Radko Gudas
The Anaheim Ducks’ Radko Gudas is set to be the focal point of attention during Monday night’s game against the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs, regardless of whether he actually plays. The 35-year-old defenseman received a five-game suspension for a knee-on-knee hit that ended the season of Leafs captain Auston Matthews on March 12. Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion due to the collision.
The NHL explained the lengthy suspension at Gudas’ subsequent hearing, stating, “Having led with and extended his knee and finding himself lined up outside of Matthews’ core, Gudas leans towards contact with Matthews in a way that results in a forceful, dangerous and direct knee-on-knee collision.”
Criticism Directed at the Maple Leafs
The Leafs (31-30-13, 75 points) faced significant scrutiny from fans and media for not confronting Gudas immediately after the incident. The Czech veteran had already been suspended four times in his NHL career before this incident.
Morgan Rielly, who was on the ice at the time, admitted, “It’s on me for not responding earlier to Gudas. Obviously, it’s a dirty hit. I didn’t understand how bad he got him in the moment, but I take full responsibility for not being the first one in there or not being in there quicker to respond.”
Despite their hopes, the Leafs might not get another chance to confront Gudas 18 days later, as it now appears unlikely he will be fit to play. Gudas missed Anaheim’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night with a lower-body injury and was seen in a walking boot earlier in the day.
Implications for the Ducks
Despite the bad blood, the game carries massive implications for the Pacific Division-leading Ducks (41-28-4, 86 points). The Oilers pulled within three points of Anaheim with a 4-2 win over them on Saturday, with Zach Hyman spoiling their comeback attempt from 3-0 down with a late empty-netter.
The Ducks allowed the first goal for the 15th occasion in 17 games since the Olympic break when Connor McDavid scored halfway into the second period. Cutter Gauthier, who scored one of Anaheim’s goals, said, “Recently we just haven’t had the right starts to games. To win games in this hockey league, you got to play a full 60 and I’m proud of our group that we always find a way to kind of come back in games and get goals when they matter, but this was an example that we got to start on time.”
A Challenging Matchup for the Maple Leafs
The Ducks will have the chance to snap a six-game losing streak against Toronto, during which they have been outscored 30-11. The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, struggled in their recent matchup against the St. Louis Blues, managing just four shots through the first period in a 5-1 drubbing. Toronto has now failed to register 20 shots on goal in three of their last four outings.
“We had one player that showed up (Saturday), and that was our goalie,” head coach Craig Berube said after the game. “That is really what it boils down to.”
Key Takeaways
- Radko Gudas’ suspension for a dangerous hit on Auston Matthews has drawn significant attention.
- The Maple Leafs faced criticism for not addressing the incident promptly.
- The Ducks are looking to improve their performance and close the gap with the Oilers.
- The Maple Leafs need to find consistency, particularly in their offensive output.
- The Ducks have a chance to end their losing streak against Toronto.
