Anaheim entered Game 4 of the Western Conference second round without its captain, as Radko Gudas did not take part in warmups despite joining the morning skate for the second straight game. The Ducks were already trailing the best-of-7 series 2-1, and coach Joel Quenneville only offered a brief update on the defenseman’s status, saying, “We’ll see.”
Gudas had been a game-time decision and remained unavailable after missing the postseason stretch since Game 1 of the first round against the Edmonton Oilers. His absence added another layer to a difficult playoff run for a player who said sitting out has been “one of the hardest experiences of my career.”
A captain waiting for a return
The Ducks captain has tried to stay connected with the group while recovering, and he said the team has kept him involved throughout the run. “The guys are battling for each other,” Gudas said, adding that the group is “a very great group” and that everyone has stayed “in the loop.”
That support has mattered during a postseason in which Anaheim has continued to advance beyond expectations. Gudas said he was thrilled just to have a chance to be part of it again, calling the journey “fun to be around and making it this far.”
The timing of his possible return has been complicated by a season in which he played only five games since March 12. That stretch began after a knee-on-knee collision with Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, which led to a five-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety for kneeing.
Limited games, limited rhythm
Gudas returned March 24 and appeared in two games before missing another matchup against the Oilers on March 28. He later played against the Maple Leafs on March 30, then missed five more games before returning April 12 against the Vancouver Canucks.
He also missed the final two games of the regular season before getting into Game 1 of the first round. That stop-start schedule has made it difficult for him to build momentum, but it has not changed the Ducks’ interest in getting their captain back if he is ready.
The veteran defenseman finished the regular season with 13 points, including two goals and 11 assists, in 56 games. In the postseason, he has 10 points, with one goal and nine assists, in 58 career playoff games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers and the Ducks.
Lineup change and power-play lift
Without Gudas, Anaheim made just one lineup change from Game 3, bringing Mason McTavish back in after he had been a healthy scratch for the previous two games. His return could matter quickly, especially with the Ducks still searching for a breakthrough on the power play.
Through three games in the series, Anaheim was 0-for-11 with the man advantage and had also given up a short-handed goal. McTavish supplied six power-play goals and 11 power-play points in the regular season, and he already has two power-play assists in the playoffs.
“I think we have to look to shoot more,” McTavish said, pointing to the need for better looks from the top and stronger screens. He also said the Ducks need to create more second chances and keep pressure on the opposition for longer stretches.
For Anaheim, the question around Gudas remained one of the most important pregame storylines, especially with the captain’s presence and experience still viewed as valuable in a tight series. The Ducks’ hope was that his status could shift quickly, but for Game 4, his place on the ice belonged to the waiting list rather than the lineup.
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