Stephane Robidas gets a pass.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman will not have a disciplinary hearing to discuss his high hit on Vancouver Canucks forward Shawn Matthias, reports Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston:
Robidas nailed Matthias with his right elbow or forearm 16:50 into the second period of Toronto’s 5-2 victory over Vancouver on Saturday, sparking speculation that the veteran blueliner could face a suspension.
“I didn’t mean to hurt the guy,” Robidas told reporters. “I just hope he’s fine. They called [me] for elbowing. I didn’t mean to hurt him, and I just hope he’s OK.”
Matthias, from nearby Mississauga, Ont., left the game immediately with an upper-body injury and did not return.
Matthias also sat out the Canucks’ game Sunday, a loss to the Ottawa Senators.
“I try to play physical,” Robidas said. “I don’t try to hurt people, that’s not what I’m trying to do. The play happened fast and I tried to close on him…. It’s one of those where I just felt awful.”