Radko Gudas attacks Panthers bench after near-fatal water bottle squirt attack (Video)

Radko Gudas of the Tampa Bay Lightning was ejected from Sunday’s 4-3 shootout loss against the Florida Panthers, but his actions were completely justifiable.

Obviously, the measured response to getting sprayed by a water bottle from the opposing bench is to wheel around and slash the top of the boards with your lumber, snapping it in half, right?

Uh … right?

After falling to the ice on an offside call, Gudas was given a 2-minute slashing minor, a 10-minute misconduct and a game misconduct with 7:09 left in the second period. According to Lightning Strikes, it was that merry prankster Scottie Upshall that sprayed him with Gatorade.

Upshall was given a 2-minute minor for being hilarious.

Oh, wait, that should read “unsportsmanlike conduct.”

He told the Miami Herald after the game: 'He overreacted a bit. ... I think he was embarrassed he fell.”

Look, all kidding aside: What the hell is referee Tim Peel (yeah, him again) thinking here?

Does this incident rise to the level of a game misconduct? Granting, it was an intentional slash that could have been injurious. But at the end of the day, it was a player that was provoked having a moment of impulse control. Hit him with a 10, sure; but a gamer? For this?

Good thing Gudas wasn't a fan, right NHL?

s/t Eye On Hockey

via Y! Sports Blogs - Yahoo Sports http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/radko-gudas-attacks-panthers-bench-near-fatal-water-003247646--nhl.html