Panthers' Scottie Upshall frustrated by hit from Lightning's Radko Gudas
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers escaped their season opener in Tampa Bay with a hard-earned point. However, they didn't return home unscathed.
With less than five minutes remaining in the second period of Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss, Tampa Bay defenseman Radko Gudas delivered a dangerous open-ice hit on Panthers winger Scottie Upshall.
Skating with his head down, Gudas extended his elbow into Upshall's head, delivering a blow that put Upshall on his back and left him visibly shaken.
Gudas was not assessed a penalty and Upshall would return to the game after a quick trip to the dressing room.
According to NBC's Mike Halford, there is currently no disciplinary hearing scheduled for Gudas. But the Panthers hope the league may take a closer look at the incident.
"I'm sure if they see it on tape maybe they'll look at it," Panthers coach Gerard Gallant said.
Still dealing with the after effects of the headshot, Upshall says hits like the one Gudas delivered are exactly what the league should be trying to eliminate from the game.
"Sore jaw, sore teeth," said Upshall, who finished the game with 17:58 of ice time. "It's one of those hits that they're trying to take away from the game. Obviously you have to play with your head up, but when guys are running around aiming for your head, it's hard to get out of the way."
With Upshall admittedly putting himself in a harm's way by skating with his head down, Gudas may be protected by a snippet of the NHL's rule on illegal checks to the head that states, "whether the opponent put himself in a vulnerable position immediately prior to or simultaneously with the hit or the head contact on an otherwise legal body check was avoidable, can be considered."
Upshall, meanwhile, isn't giving Gudas the benefit of the doubt.
"I probably got about 100 calls from people saying it was a dirty hit and whatnot," Upshall said. "I'm sure the league is looking at it. They're trying to keep the game a skilled game and take away the guys that are just running around and don't even know there's a puck out on the ice."
If the NHL does take a second look at the events of Thursday's game, the league may take into account Gudas' history with Upshall when trying to determine if there were any intent.
On Oct. 27, 2013, Gudas slashed the Panthers bench after being squirted with a liquid by Upshall. Gudas was given a 2-minute slashing minor, a 10-minute misconduct and a game misconduct. Upshall was given a 2-minute minor for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Almost a year removed from the incident, Upshall remarked that the ill-tempered Gudas clearly hadn't forgotten his bath when the two met after Thursday's game to discuss the hit.
"He mentioned to me, 'That's what you get for squirting me with Gatorade,' " Upshall said. "I guess if you squirt a guy with Gatorade you get a blindside elbow to the lips."
Though no action has been taken, a hearing with the Department of Player Safety remains possible.
You can follow Jameson Olive on Twitter @JamesonCoop or email him at JamesonOlive@gmail.com.
