Gudbranson rips Cousins' 'terrible hit': Felt like I'd 'been in a car wreck'

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson revealed that he felt like he'd "been in a car wreck" after Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins caught him with a monster hit from behind during Sunday's contest.

"That's a bad hit," the rearguard said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline. "If that hit takes place three feet before that, I end up going down and bending my neck. That's when you get a compression fracture, and who knows how the rest of your life is?"

"My kids were 85 feet away," Gudbranson continued. "It's a terrible hit. I was walking around pacing the hallways at home, trying to calm down and happy that my legs still worked."

The collision occurred in the third period of the Jackets' 5-2 loss. Gudbranson remained down on the ice for a brief moment, then sprang to his feet and went after Cousins.

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Cousins was initially handed a major penalty for boarding, but it was reduced to a minor upon review. Both players remained in the game, and Gudbranson mauled Cousins in retaliation a few minutes later. Gudbranson was ejected from the game as a result and earned 27 minutes of penalties on the play.

The NHL's Department of Player Safety handed Gudbranson a one-game suspension for instigating, while Cousins received no supplemental discipline.

"The rule is the rule. I got one game for it. Take it and move on," Gudbranson said.

The 31-year-old will miss Thursday's clash against the Toronto Maple Leafs because of the ban.

The Blue Jackets currently sit in last place of the Metropolitan Division with a 9-16-5 record.

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