No hearing for Gudas after big hit on Catenacci

PHILADELPHIA — With ice taped to his hand after the game, Czech Republic native Radko Gudas went into the locker room to do an interview in his native tongue.

Many thought that hand could've been busy Friday, answering a call from the NHL's department of player safety.

Gudas has already been suspended once this year and may be again after a hit on Daniel Catenacci late in Thursday's 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Catenacci had his head down and the puck wasn't close by when Gudas drove into him and put him on the ice. He had to answer to Jake McCabe for the hit.

Earlier in the game, Gudas fought Marcus Foligno for his trouble after throwing a hit with his knee out. Foligno didn't like either hit.

A league source told the Courier-Post Friday morning that no hearing is scheduled for the Flyers defenseman. He will be eligible to play Saturday afternoon against the New Jersey Devils.

“I don’t want to talk about that guy. That guy’s an idiot and stupid,” Foligno said. “He gets his hits in, he’s dirty and he’s been known for it. He goes after a rookie who plays in three games and goes right at his head. He’s an idiot, that guy. That’s all I can say. I wish that me and (Nicolas Deslauriers) were out on the ice at that time and we could’ve done a little worse damage to him.”

Catenacci was going through testing after the game, according to Buffalo coach Dan Bylsma.

"I think there’s no question it’s a head hit," Bylsma said. "It’s also a guy who had two other guys on him and he stepped up into him clearly. I don’t think there’s too much question about it. The refs took care of it on the ice, as did Jake McCabe."

Gudas was suspended three games for an illegal hit to the head of Ottawa's Mika Zibanejad in December. He did not get suspended for a hit on Montreal's Lucas Lessio on Feb. 2. He was given a five-minute clipping penalty and a game misconduct in that game.

"It looked to me like he was down low from what I saw on the ice," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said Thursday night. "So that’s all I can comment on."

Dave Isaac; (856) 486-2479; disaac@gannettnj.com.