Auston Matthews Suffers Knee Injury in Collision with Radko Gudas

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews sustained a lower-body injury during a game against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, March 12, 2026, following a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks captain Radko Gudas. The Maple Leafs won the game 6-4, despite Matthews’ absence.

Incident Details

The collision occurred at 15:47 of the second period as Matthews attempted to avoid a hit from Gudas. Gudas was assessed a five-minute major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct, effectively ending his participation in the game. The Athletic reported that Leafs coach Craig Berube described the hit as a “dirty play.”

Matthews’ Condition and Absence

Matthews immediately grabbed his left knee after the impact and required assistance to leave the ice, placing minimal weight on the injured leg. He did not return to the game for the third period and the Maple Leafs announced he was out due to a lower-body injury. Yahoo Sports noted that Matthews will be “looked at tomorrow” for further evaluation.

Recent Performance

Prior to the injury, Matthews had ended a 12-game goal drought, scoring a power-play goal at 10:47 of the second period. He has accumulated 53 points this season, comprised of 27 goals and 26 assists in 60 games. Yahoo Sports also highlighted that Matthews recently captained the United States men’s hockey team to a gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Team Response and Aftermath

The Maple Leafs capitalized on the ensuing five-minute power play, scoring twice. Notably, no Maple Leafs players retaliated against Gudas following the hit, a lack of response that drew criticism from fans on social media. Hockey Patrol reported on the fan reaction, highlighting the perceived lack of physical intensity from Toronto.

Gudas’ History

This is not the first time Gudas has been involved in a controversial play resulting in an injury to a prominent player. During the 2026 Olympics, a hit by Gudas ended the tournament for Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby. The Athletic noted that this previous incident led to significant online criticism of Gudas.

Looking Ahead

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety is expected to review the incident involving Gudas. The severity of Matthews’ injury and the potential length of his absence remain uncertain pending further evaluation.