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Bolts’ Gudas has misconduct rescinded from stick-smashing incident

RadkoGudas

Tampa Bay defenseman Radko Gudas had his game misconduct penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct rescinded by the NHL on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Gudas, 23, was tossed from Sunday’s 4-3 win over Florida after slashing at the Panthers’ bench with his stick. The incident was sparked by Florida forward Scottie Upshall, who squirted Gatorade at Gudas as he skated by.

“It’s something that works in our favor, so it’s good to see,” Lightning head coach Jon Cooper explained. “In the heat of the game, calls get made. Coaches disagree with calls all the time, so it’s in the nature. I respect the call (referee Tim Peel) made.

“I understand, partially, why he made it, but I think the league got it right.”

Here’s the incident in question:

Rescinding the misconduct is important because a player that accumulates three in a season is automatically suspended for one game. Gudas also saves himself a cool $200 in the process (that’s the fine amount for a game misconduct), but he wasn’t especially keen to discuss it.

“I don’t think there’s anything to talk about,” he said. “Last time I checked we were playing the Devils not the Panthers, so I’m focused on the game coming up.”