NHL will not suspend Gudas for hit on Upshall

Florida's Scottie Upshall gets caught with his head down as he accelerated into the arm of Lightning defenceman Radko Gudas. No penalty was called on the play.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Radko Gudas will not be suspended for his hit to the head of Florida Panthers forward Scottie Upshall, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Twitter Friday.

NHL Player Safety on Twitter: “(1) Gudas hit on Upshall merited warning but not SD for the following reasons:…”

NHL Player Safety on Twitter: “(2) Per Rule 48: “When determining whether contact with an opponent’s head was avoidable, the circumstances of the hit shall be considered.””

NHL Player Safety on Twitter: “(3) Here, Upshall assumed a posture that made head contact on an otherwise full-body check unavoidable. http://t.co/IGmlYp5WzD”

NHL Player Safety on Twitter: “(4) Also, contact was in immediate aftermath of Gudas playing puck.”

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Upshall was caught with his head down while skating up the left wing midway through the second period of the Panthers’ 3-2 season-opening loss to the Lightning Thursday night when he was rocked by a hit from Gudas.

Hockey Central on Twitter: “Upshall took a nasty shot from Gudas last night. It wasn’t their first unfriendly incident… http://t.co/Alg353KAXi”

The Panthers winger was shaken up after the hit, while a scrum between both teams ensued. Gudas did not receive a penalty on the play.

Upshall briefly left the game, but later returned to the ice.

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