Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews injured in collision with Ducks' Gudas

Toronto star center helped off ice with lower-body injury in second period

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:12pm

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Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews was helped off the ice and to the dressing room at 15:47 of the second period after taking a knee-on-knee hit from the Anaheim Ducks' Radko Gudas. The Maple Leafs later said Matthews will not return because of a lower-body injury.

Why it matters

Matthews is a two-time NHL All-Star and one of the league's top offensive talents. Any significant injury to him would be a major blow to the Maple Leafs' playoff hopes as they push for a postseason berth.

The details

Gudas was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the hit on Matthews. The Ducks were leading 3-2 at the time of the incident. Matthews had earlier ended a 12-game goal drought by scoring earlier in the period. For the season, he has 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists).

  • The incident occurred at 15:47 of the second period on Thursday, March 13, 2026.

The players

Auston Matthews

A two-time NHL All-Star and one of the league's top offensive talents, playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Radko Gudas

A defenseman for the Anaheim Ducks who was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for the hit on Matthews.

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What they’re saying

“We must wait and see the extent of Matthews' injury, but any time a star player goes down it's a concern for the team and the league.”

— Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner (SportsCenter)

What’s next

The Maple Leafs will provide an update on Matthews' status and the severity of his lower-body injury in the coming days.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the physical toll of the NHL season and the importance of star players staying healthy for their teams to have success. The Maple Leafs will need to find a way to weather the potential loss of Matthews as they push for a playoff spot.