Ducks’ Gudas ejected after knee-on-knee hit injures Leafs’ Matthews
A nasty play has left one of the game’s top players in distress.
During Thursday night’s game between the Anaheim Ducks and the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas was ejected from the game after a knee-on-knee hit on Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.
The incident came in the waning minutes of the second period. Matthews had the puck in the slot in the Ducks’ zone and looked to evade an oncoming Gudas. When the Toronto center lunged to get out of the way, Gudas stuck out his leg, taking out Matthews’ left leg.
Auston Matthews had to leave the game after this knee on knee hit from Radko Gudas. Gudas was given a game misconduct 5 minute major
Matthews was in clear pain after the play and hobbled off the ice. Gudas was assessed a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct.
The Leafs capitalized on the power play, as John Tavares scored his 23rd goal of the season to tie the game at three. Matthews scored himself earlier in the period, his 27th of the year and first in 12 games, to kickstart a comeback after Toronto trailed by two at the halfway mark of the game.
The Leafs announced that Matthews wouldn’t return to the game due to a lower-body injury. He had registered 13:18 of ice time across 14 shifts, posting two shots on goal, along with delivering a hit.
The Arizona native certainly has had a rough 2025-26 season, as has the team around him. Through 59 games, he has also posted 27 assists and 53 points. Matthews is well off the pace that led to his career-high 69 goals and 107 points during the 2023-24 season, and might not reach last year’s production, when he posted 33 goals and 78 points in 67 contests.
This is the second time Gudas has been involved with a notable hit on a star player. Last month at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Czech defender laid a hit on Canada captain Sidney Crosby that knocked No. 87 out for the remainder of the tournament.