from Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer,

And if he is suspended for Saturday night's third-period shoulder-to-the-head hit on Boston rookie center Austin Czarnik, it would leave the Flyers in an unwanted position for Friday's regular-season opener in Los Angeles _ being short an extra player in case of an injury.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety is expected to rule on Gudas on Sunday, and it would not be surprising if he was suspended.

Then again, the NHL has been so inconsistent in its rulings that nothing can be assumed.

The burly Gudas delivered the hit with 14:13 remaining in regulation of the Bruins' 1-0 overtime win, and he received a two-minute boarding penalty. Unlike Vesey, the 5-foot-9, 167-pound Czarnik did not return to the game.

That won't help Gudas' case.

Afterward, Boston coach Claude Julien criticized the 6-foot, 204-pound Gudas, calling the hit "late."

"Somehow, he seems to have a knack of getting himself in trouble every game," he said.

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Watch the hit below...