Ducks D Radko Gudas to face music, will play Maple Leafs

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas said he will play against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday despite sitting out Saturday with a lower-body injury.

It's notable news because Gudas' illegal knee-on-knee hit ended Toronto captain Auston Matthews' season back on March 12. Gudas was suspended for five games by the NHL, but in the game itself, Maple Leafs players did not confront Gudas directly after the incident.

"It's on me for not responding earlier to Gudas," defenseman Morgan Rielly, who was on the ice at the time, said after that game. "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."

Gudas was injured Thursday against the Calgary Flames. He was seen in a walking boot and sat out Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, but the 35-year-old is not using the injury to hide from the Leafs' likely ire.

"I think it's gonna be an intense game. Yeah, one of the reasons why I wanted to play, you know, address things," Gudas told reporters at Monday's skate. "You never want to watch your team play without you. I'm doing everything to play these games.

"... Stand behind my own mistakes. I want to address it myself. So, that's one of the reasons one hundred percent. It's one of those games where I - where I have to play."

Gudas' hit dealt Matthews a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion. He underwent season-ending surgery March 19, with the Maple Leafs all but eliminated from playoff contention.

In his 14th NHL season, Gudas has appeared in 54 games and tallied two goals, 11 assists and 45 penalty minutes. He has amassed 42 goals, 169 assists and 1,102 penalty minutes in 883 career games for the Tampa Bay Lightning (2012-15), Philadelphia Flyers (2015-19), Washington Capitals (2019-20), Florida Panthers (2020-23) and Ducks.

Anaheim (41-28-4, 86 points) holds a three-point lead over Edmonton for first place in the Pacific Division with nine games to play.

--Field Level Media