Ducks Captain Suspended 5 Games for Knee Hit on Leafs Star Matthews

Radko Gudas' controversial hit ends Auston Matthews' season with a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:11am

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Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews suffered a knee-to-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas on Thursday, resulting in a season-ending injury. The NHL suspended Gudas for 5 games and fined him over $100,000 for the illegal check.

Why it matters

Matthews is a two-time All-Star and former MVP, so his absence is a major blow to the struggling Maple Leafs, who are fighting to make the playoffs. The incident also raises concerns about player safety and the league's disciplinary process for dangerous hits.

The details

Just 5 minutes after scoring his 27th goal of the season, Matthews was hit by Gudas, resulting in a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion. Gudas was assessed a game misconduct and major penalty for kneeing. The NHL later announced the 5-game suspension and fine for Gudas, citing the severity of the illegal check.

  • On Thursday night, Gudas hit Matthews with a knee-to-knee check in the second period.
  • On Friday, the Maple Leafs announced Matthews will miss the rest of the season due to the injury.
  • Also on Friday, the NHL suspended Gudas for 5 games and fined him over $100,000.

The players

Auston Matthews

A 28-year-old center and captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Matthews is a two-time All-Star and former NHL MVP.

Radko Gudas

A 36-year-old defenseman for the Anaheim Ducks, Gudas was suspended by the NHL for 5 games and fined over $100,000 for the illegal knee-to-knee hit on Matthews.

Craig Berube

The head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Berube called Gudas' hit a "dirty play" after the game.

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What they’re saying

“It's a dirty play.”

— Craig Berube, Head Coach, Toronto Maple Leafs (TSN)

What’s next

The Maple Leafs said Matthews will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, but he is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season due to the severity of the injury.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about player safety in the NHL and the league's ability to properly discipline dangerous hits. Matthews' absence is a major blow to the struggling Maple Leafs, who are fighting to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.