Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was injured in the second period of Thursday’s game against the visiting Anaheim Ducks after taking a knee-on-knee on hit from defenceman Radko Gudas.
Gudas, the captain of the Ducks, received a five minute major and game misconduct for the hit.
Radko Gudas goes knee-on-knee with Auston Matthews. Gudas received a minute major pending review. Auston Matthews was down for a while but has gotten back to his feet. pic.twitter.com/Rxf6xIe1GH
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 13, 2026
John Tavares scored on the ensuing power play to tie the game at 3-3 heading into the final period.
The incident happened with just over four minutes remaining in the second period when Matthews received a pass near the front of the Ducks net.
Matthews, who scored his 27th goal of the season earlier in the period on the power play, attempted to avoid a charging Gudas, but ended up colliding with the veteran blueliner, who was sticking out his knee.
Gudas, a native of Czech Republic, was also the player that took out Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby in the Olympic quarter-final last month in Milan. Crosby was unable to return to the tournament as Canada fell in the gold medal game to the United States.
The 28-year-old Matthews has 53 points in 60 games this season, his 10th in the NHL.
Gudas, 35, has two goals and 11 assists over 52 games in 2025-26, third campaign in Anaheim.