Florida Panthers defenseman Radko Gudas leveled David Kampf of the Toronto Maple Leafs with a devastating hit into the boards that came after the whistle.

No penalty was called on the play, which happened right in front of referee Gord Dwyer.

 

 

The whistle sounded when referee Jon McIsaac called a penalty on Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman T.J. Brodie for holding the stick of Panthers center Anton Lundell.  That was the only penalty handed out on the play.

Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe discussed the hit after the game. 

“I don’t have audio when we watch the video back [on the bench], so I don’t know exactly when the whistle blew,” Keefe said. “That’s a hit on a guy that [Gudas] knows the play either has ended or is ending.  To me, that’s a hit with no intention other than to hurt the player. You know, a lot of violence to it, but happy Dave’s okay.”

Kampf did leave the ice after the hit for evaluation, later returning to the game. 

“Obviously a dangerous play,” said Toronto’s Ryan O’Reilly. “But it is what it is.”

 

At least Gudas listened to referee Frederick L’Ecuyer and avoided sitting on Kampf on the play.