Radko Gudas strikes again, ejected for late hit vs. Devils (Video)
Time to reset the “Days Since Radko Gudas Has Been Ejected” counter.
Midway through the first period of Tuesday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils, the Philadelphia Flyers defenseman drilled Bobby Farnham well behind the play. Officials handed him a match penalty for an illegal hit to the head.
It’s another example this month of Gudas putting himself in the sights of the NHL’s Department of Player Safety.
On Feb. 2, he was given a major for clipping and a game misconduct for a hit on Lucas Lessio of the Montreal Canadiens. The DoPS decided against punishing him.
A little over a week later Gudas drilled Daniel Catenacci of the Buffalo Sabres and earned himself five for charging and another five for fighting Jake McCabe. Again, the DoPS chose not supply further punishment.
But you can only toe the line so many times before you have to pay, especially considering Gudas is in repeat offender territory after a three-game ban in December for a head shot on Mika Zibanejad of the Ottawa Senators.
“This is my style of hockey and as long as they want me to play like this, I will,” is what Gudas told the Czech Republic’s TV NOVA after the Catenacci hit. He also had a chat with head coach Dave Hakstol and GM Ron Hextall after he avoided suspension. The key message? How putting his team a man down isn’t a wise strategy.
“That is part of the conversation we had. ‘What are we doing to help ourselves win hockey games?’ Hakstol said.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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