Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews injured after knee-on-knee hit from Ducks' Gudas

Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews (34) is helped off the ice after being injured by Anaheim Ducks Radko Gudas (7) during second period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews left Thursday’s game against Anaheim after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas.

The 28-year-old tried to make a move around the blueliner in the slot in the second period but took a direct blow to his left leg before crashing to the ice.

Matthews stayed down before being helped to the locker room.

Gudas, a bruising defender whose hit ended Canadian captain Sidney Crosby’s Olympics in the quarterfinals while playing for Czechia, was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct.

Matthews snapped a 12-game goal drought earlier in the period on a power play.

Toronto’s star centre has 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 60 contests this season.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2026.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press