"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. 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."
"Not (to come out) like a bunch of idiots, but to play hard, yeah. 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."
"Yeah, we have to build off of it. I thought there were some good things, especially on the power play. ... We have to build."
Following a game where Radko Gudas delivered a dirty hit on Auston Matthews, Leafs alternate captain Morgan Rielly took full accountability for Toronto's lack of immediate response. Rielly admitted he didn't have a clear view of the play but emphasized it was his responsibility to react sooner. Gudas received a five-minute major and game misconduct. The incident sparked a physical third period where Rielly, Cowan, McCabe, and Domi combined for 33 penalty minutes. Despite Matthews's injury, the Leafs delivered their most complete performance in a month, securing a win highlighted by three power-play goals, including two during a five-minute advantage. Toronto faces Buffalo next.
Read at TheLeafsNation
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]