Morgan Rielly takes responsibility for lack of response to Radko Gudas’ hit on Auston Matthews
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
After the game, Leafs alternate captain Morgan Rielly addressed Toronto’s lack of response to the hit, taking full accountability for not getting in there sooner.
“I didn’t have a good view of it, because the puck was going the other way, but it’s on me for not responding earlier to Gudas being there,” Rielly said. “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 one in there or being in there quicker to respond.”
Gudas was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct on the play, which spilled into the third period. In that final frame, the Leafs came out hard. Rielly, Easton Cowan, Jake McCabe, and Max Domi all got in on the action, combining for 33 penalty minutes. After the game, Rielly touched on the discussion in the locker room at the second intermission leading to that physical third period.
“Not (to come out) like a bunch of idiots, but to play hard, yeah,” Rielly said. “You watch the hit back, it’s not great. Myself and the other people on the ice, I think that we take responsibility for not being there.”
The injury to Matthews may have marred the evening, but overall the Leafs put up their most complete performance in a month to come away with the win. Highlighting the win was three power-play markers, two of which were registered on their five-minute man advantage.
“Yeah, we have to build off of it,” Rielly said. “I thought there were some good things, especially on the power play. … We have to build.”
Toronto returns to the ice on Saturday night, set to face off against the red-hot Buffalo Sabres, who currently sit atop the Atlantic Division.