The Gnats have each other's backs.

After Boston Bruins enforcer Nick Ritchie hammered Tampa Bay Lightning forward Yanni Gourde into the boards in Game 4 of their second-round series, Barclay Goodrow came to his linemate's defense by dropping the gloves with Ritchie.

Goodrow, who makes up one-third of the insect-named trio alongside Gourde and Blake Coleman, made it clear by his actions he didn't like Ritchie's hit. He confirmed as much Sunday.

"I thought it was a pretty dirty hit. It was late. It was from behind," Goodrow said, according to NHL.com's Bryan Burns. "The puck had left his stick so long ago that most guys on the ice didn't see the hit because they were following the puck up the ice."

Ritchie was assessed a five-minute major for boarding on the play. Gourde initially left the game but later returned.

The NHL Department of Player Safety has yet to announce whether Ritchie will face supplemental discipline.

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