Maple Leafs fans furious over decision on Radko Gudas's suspension for dirty hit

"On Thursday night, as the Maple Leafs hosted the Anaheim Ducks, center Auston Matthews was trying to make a play in the slot and had defenseman Radko Gudas storm in and lay him out with a very nasty knee-on-knee collision that left the Leafs captain unable to get up off the ice. Matthews eventually exited the game after the hit and Gudas was ejected, but news came down that made this hit even worse."

"Gudas having a phone hearing and not something in-person, limits the suspension to just five or fewer games. Just a handful of games missed after displaying an intense intent to injure. Of course, this caused hundreds and hundreds of Leafs fans to head to Twitter and yell and scream into the void about how unfair this is -- because it is just another typical display of the Department of Player Safety and its leader, George Parros, not making the right decision."

During a Maple Leafs-Ducks game, center Auston Matthews was struck by defenseman Radko Gudas in a dangerous knee-on-knee collision while attempting a play in the slot. Gudas was ejected from the game, and Matthews left unable to continue playing. The NHL Department of Player Safety scheduled a phone hearing to determine potential suspension. However, phone hearings limit suspensions to five games maximum, significantly less than what many believe appropriate for the apparent intent to injure. Fans expressed frustration on social media, comparing the light potential punishment to other suspensions and criticizing the Department of Player Safety's handling of the incident.

Read at Editor In Leaf