Gudas Out for Ducks in Game 4 of Western 2nd Round Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas did not play in Game 4 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. The defenseman, who had participated in the morning skate for the second consecutive game, was not on the ice for warmups. Gudas has not played since Game 1 of the first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers on April 20. Coach Joel Quenneville said after the morning skate, “We’ll see,” when asked if Gudas would be in the lineup as the Ducks trailed the best-of-7 series 2-1. Gudas described his absence from the lineup as one of the “hardest experiences of my career.” He emphasized the team’s resilience and camaraderie, stating, “The guys are battling for each other. They’re a very great group, and we are in this together.” Despite the setback, Gudas expressed pride in the Ducks’ playoff run, calling it “fun to be around” and noting the team’s progress. “At the start of the year, I don’t think anyone would’ve guessed anything like that,” he added, highlighting the team’s collective effort. Gudas’ absence stems from a lingering injury sustained during a collision with Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews on March 12. The incident resulted in a Grade 3 MCL sprain for Matthews, who missed the rest of the regular season, and a five-game suspension for Gudas for kneeing. After returning to play on March 24, Gudas missed a game against the Oilers on March 28 before playing on March 30 against the Maple Leafs. He missed five more games before returning on April 12 against the Vancouver Canucks and then missed the final two games of the regular season before joining the Ducks in the playoffs. Gudas has played five games since March 12, including Game 1 of the first round.#anaheim_ducks #joel_quenneville #auston_matthews #vegas_golden_knights #radko_gudas
