Radko Gudas wasted no time as the captain of the Ducks. He started fighting Max Domi as soon as the game began.
Just forty-eight seconds into the match, things were already intense. There was no slow start or careful gameplay.
Gudas hit the ice with the tension from earlier this month still fresh. Everyone was still thinking about the hit on Auston Matthews.
He jumped right into the action.
On his first shift, he went straight for Domi in the middle of the ice.
Domi reacted immediately. He didn’t hesitate, and there was no looking back. As soon as they were face to face, they threw off their gloves.
This was expected, and it looked like it couldn’t be avoided.
Gudas confronted it directly.
This wasn’t just to build energy for the team. It was about handling the consequences of that hit.
Gudas made it clear he wanted to be part of this game. He knew what was coming.
And he didn’t ease back into things quietly.
This matters in the locker room, especially from a captain. Teammates pay attention to who steps up in moments like this.
The fight helped settle things down early on. After that, the game shifted to a normal pace.
Anaheim didn’t get involved in any extra drama. They stayed organized after that first shift.
Toronto had its way of handling it too. Domi managed the situation, and the Leafs didn’t feel the need to escalate it further.
However, the atmosphere had already been set.
This wasn’t just another game to check off the list. There was a history behind that first face-off.
Gudas took it on right away, in the simplest way possible.
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