Leafs’ Rielly takes ‘full responsibility’ for not intervening after Gudas hit on Matthews
There was plenty of criticism about the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ response to their captain’s injury (or lack thereof).
However, no one seems to be taking it harder than one of the team’s veterans.
After the Leafs came away with a 6-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was asked about how the team’s lack of emotion after forward Auston Matthews was taken out by Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas late in the second period.
Rielly mentioned that he and his teammates didn’t realize how bad the hit was at first glance.
Morgan Rielly says he takes “full responsibility” for not responding in the moment after Gudas hit Matthews and that he didn’t realize how bad the hit was at first.
“I didn’t have a good view of it just because the puck was going another way,” Rielly said. “But it’s on me for not responding earlier to Gudas being there. 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 to get in there or being there quicker to respond.”
The play in question came with a few minutes to go in the second period. Matthews had the puck in the slot in the offensive zone and looked to juke past an oncoming Gudas. When the Toronto center lunged to get out of the way, Gudas’s leg was out, taking out Matthews’ left leg.
Matthews was in obvious distress after the play and limped off the ice. Gudas was assessed a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct.
Auston Matthews had to leave the game after this knee on knee hit from Radko Gudas. Gudas was given a game misconduct 5 minute major
Rielly gingerly skated over and grabbed Gudas with a rather soft hug, rather than taking a more intense exception to the Toronto captain being knocked down with a dangerous play. It further adds to the narrative that has hovered over the Leafs for years: that the team lacks the toughness and emotion a true championship contender requires. There have been multiple instances where Toronto has failed to force its opponents to answer the bell after going after the team’s top players.
The Leafs later announced that Matthews wouldn’t return to the game due to a lower-body injury. He scored his 27th goal of the season earlier in the period to kickstart a comeback, as Toronto was trailing 2-1 earlier in the frame. He logged 13:18 of ice time across 14 shifts, posting two shots on goal, along with delivering a hit.