Trending Now - Auston Matthews Out for Season Following Gudas' Dangerous Hit
WHO:
Craig Berube, Leafs coach
Frankie Corrado, TSN analyst
Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks defender
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs captain
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins player
John Carlson, Washington Capitals player
Leafs PR, Toronto Maple Leafs public relations
Anna Dua, Sportsnet reporter
WHAT:
Radko Gudas has been suspended for five games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for the knee-on-knee hit that ended Auston Matthews's season.
Judd Moldaver, Matthews's agent, criticized the NHL's decision, stating, "In light of the obvious severity of the play, I am very disappointed and shocked that the league would allow for such a ruling."
Gudas has previously been suspended four times for a total of 21 games in his 14-year NHL career, with his longest suspension being 10 games in 2017.
Auston Matthews will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 NHL season due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and a bruised quadriceps muscle.
Matthews has a Grade 3 MCL tear and will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Matthews finishes the season with 27 goals and 53 points in 60 games.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are projected to miss the postseason for the first time since Matthews entered the league as the No. 1 pick in 2016.
The Leafs have a record of 28-27-11 and are currently third to last in the Eastern Conference.
Auston Matthews has 27 goals and 26 assists in 60 games this season.
Gudas has been suspended four times in his career, including twice for illegal hits to the head.
Gudas has missed 21 games in his career due to suspensions.
The Leafs scored twice on the power play following Gudas' major penalty, contributing to a 6-4 win.
Radko Gudas injured Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit during a game.
Gudas received a five-minute major penalty for kneeing and was ejected from the game.
Auston Matthews left the game due to a lower-body injury and did not return.
Matthews scored a goal earlier in the game, breaking a 12-game goalless streak.
Gudas has two goals, 11 assists, and 45 penalty minutes this season.
Gudas is expected to have a phone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety regarding the hit on Matthews.
WHERE:
The game took place in Toronto, Canada.
The incident occurred in front of Anaheim's net.
WHEN:
The game occurred on March 12th, 2026.
The injury to Sidney Crosby occurred during the Milan Cortino Olympics in 2026.
WHY:
The NHL ruled that Gudas's contact was not created by sudden or evasive movements from either player, placing the onus on Gudas to deliver a legal hit.
Craig Berube expressed dissatisfaction that none of Matthews' teammates engaged with Gudas following the hit, stating, "We should have had four guys in there doing something about it."
Morgan Rielly took responsibility for not responding quicker to Gudas, saying, "It’s on me for not responding earlier to Gudas. It’s a dirty hit."
Craig Berube described Gudas' hit as “a dirty play.”
Frankie Corrado stated, “It’s a garbage hit from a player who has a reputation for doing these kinds of things.”
The injury to Matthews was caused by a reckless hit from Gudas.
HOW:
Gudas argued during his hearing that he was attempting to deliver a full-body check and prevent a goal, but the NHL determined that he led with an extended knee, resulting in a dangerous collision.
Gudas received a major penalty and game misconduct for the knee-on-knee hit on Matthews.
Gudas' hit on Matthews was described as reckless, as he extended his leg to make contact with Matthews.
Gudas kneed Matthews while he was trying to maneuver around him in the slot.
(UPDATED March 14, 2026 03:43 UTC)
In a significant development, Radko Gudas has been suspended for five games by the NHL Department of Player Safety following a knee-on-knee hit that ended Auston Matthews's season. Matthews's agent, Judd Moldaver, expressed his disappointment with the league's ruling, emphasizing the severity of the incident. Gudas, who has faced suspensions four times in his 14-year career, argued that he was trying to make a legal check, but the NHL concluded that he led with an extended knee, leading to the dangerous collision.
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(UPDATED March 14, 2026 01:24 UTC)
Auston Matthews will miss the rest of the 2025-26 NHL season due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and a bruised quadriceps muscle, finishing the season with 27 goals and 53 points in 60 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs, currently third to last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 28 wins, 27 losses, and 11 overtime losses, are projected to miss the postseason for the first time since Matthews joined the league as the No. 1 pick in 2016. This injury occurred following a knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas, who received a major penalty and game misconduct, while teammates expressed frustration over the lack of immediate response to the hit.
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(UPDATED March 13, 2026 17:11 UTC)
In last night's game, the Toronto Maple Leafs secured a 6-4 victory over their opponents, with two power play goals following a major penalty on Radko Gudas, who was criticized for a reckless hit on Auston Matthews. Matthews continues to shine this season, boasting 27 goals and 26 assists in 60 games, while Gudas has faced scrutiny for his history of illegal hits, having been suspended four times throughout his career. Coach Craig Berube called Gudas' hit “a dirty play,” and analyst Frankie Corrado echoed those sentiments, labeling it “a garbage hit” from a player known for such actions.
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(UPDATED March 13, 2026 13:21 UTC)
In a game on March 12, 2026, Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks injured Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs with a knee-on-knee hit, resulting in Gudas receiving a five-minute major penalty and being ejected from the game. Matthews, who had just scored a goal earlier in the match to end a 12-game goalless streak, left the ice due to a lower-body injury and did not return. Gudas is expected to have a phone hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety regarding the incident, which took place in front of Anaheim's net in Toronto.