The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced on Wednesday morning that they have fined San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane the maximum $5,000 for his hit on Washington Capitals defenseman Radko Gudas with 5:07 left in the third period of the Capitals’ 5-2 win over the Sharks at SAP Center on Tuesday night. Gudas left the game and did not return.

San Jose’s Evander Kane has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Elbowing Washington’s Radko Gudas.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) December 4, 2019

When Gudas came into the play trying to pick Kane’s pocket, Kane hit him in the head with his glove which caused Gudas to crash into the boards.

Kane received a game misconduct for elbowing.

The play can be found below:

Capitals’ head coach Todd Reirden stated that Gudas, 29, will be evaluated on Wednesday prior to their game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center (10 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington). If he cannot play, the Capitals will have only five defensemen available for the game.

Kane has been suspended three times in his NHL career, though one of them was for abuse of officials in the preseason earlier this year.

Gudas has posted seven assists and a +12 rating in 29 games this season. He played 14:53 against the Sharks.

By Harrison Brown