WATCH: Sabres forward calls Flyers' Radko Gudas an idiot for brutal hit
Radko Gudas delivered a brutal check to the head of Sabres rookie Daniel Catenacci. Buffalo's Marcus Foligno had some choice words for Gudas after the game.
By
Chris Peters
•
3 min read
Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas plays the game on the edge, plain and simple. His physical brand of hockey is part of why he made it to the NHL and a reason he still finds work, but as is so often the case with players like that, they can step over the line. Gudas is one who has done it frequently and sure appeared to again against the Buffalo Sabres Thursday night.
After already drawing the ire of Sabres forward Marcus Foligno for a kneeing incident that went unpenalized, resulting in a fight earlier in the game, Gudas laid a hit that likely triggers a hearing from the Department of Player Safety in the game's closing minutes of what would be a 5-1 win for the Flyers.
Gudas delivered a crushing hit to the head of rookie Daniel Catenacci who was already engaged in a race for a loose puck with Flyers forward Chris VadeVelde. The hit brought an immediate answer from Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe, who was quick to drop the gloves and go after Gudas.
Here’s a look at the hit and subsequent scrap:
This is definitely getting a long look from the NHL.
Catenacci is in a prone position here and he’s engaged with another player. You can say “keep your head up,” but he’s already engaged with VandeVelde. There’s little he can do in a puck battle to also prepare to get whacked by someone else. There's a good case that he is in a vulnerable position here and that Gudas should have had time to spot that. What’s worse is that Gudas seems to time the hit for maximum devastation, which is something the league will definitely consider.
The Flyers were leading 5-1 at this point. It wasn't going to be a play of consequence in the game and may not have even been the right play with Catenacci struggling for possession. A poke-check would have been more effective in getting the puck back for the Flyers. But that's not the play Gudas is ever going to make in that situation. He played his game and once again, it looks like he stepped over the line.
Gudas did receive a major penalty for charging on the Catenacci hit, while McCabe grabbed a fighting major, an instigator penalty and a game misconduct. He could face an automatic one-game suspension as a result of that. Gudas, obviously, also received a fighting major for the scrap with McCabe.
Meanwhile, Catenacci left the ice pretty wobbly. According to John Vogl of the Buffalo News, he was going through concussion testing after the game. If it turns out that he is indeed concussed, the decision only gets easier for Player Safety.
The Sabres were still upset about the hit after the game, naturally. Foligno, who fought Gudas after the Flyers scored their fourth goal of the game, didn’t hold back in his criticism of the defenseman.
Foligno on Gudas: "The guy's an idiot. He's dirty, goes after a rookie, goes right for his head. He's an idiot that's all I can say."
— WGR 550 (@WGR550) February 12, 2016
Head coach Dan Bylsma also said he expects the league will take a look at the hit.
Gudas does have a history -- a recent one -- which will go against him in a hearing. He was banned three games back on Dec. 2 for a headshot on Ottawa Senators forward Mika Zibanejad. Should the Department of Player Safety suspend him again, he would carry repeat offender status. Just last week, he was ejected from a game, but was not suspended after clipping Montreal Canadiens forward Lucas Lessio.
Given Gudas’ particularly recent history, he could be staring down a pretty lengthy suspension for this one.
