Radko Gudas was given a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct for a play that resulted in Auston Matthews having to be helped off the ice Thursday night. Chris Tanouye / Getty Images
TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had to be helped off the ice following a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas on Thursday night.
Gudas was given a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct following a video review.
“It’s a dirty play,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “The league’s gonna obviously look at it, and we’ll see what the suspension will be or whatever happens.”
Matthews immediately grabbed his left knee after the collision. He remained down during the ensuing TV timeout before being helped to the dressing room by team staff.
“I didn’t like it,” John Tavares said. “He really clips him pretty good. I thought it was dirty.”
Only five minutes earlier, Matthews scored on the power play to end a season-long 12-game goal drought. He didn’t return for the third period.
While playing for the Czech Republic at the 2026 Olympics, Gudas was also involved in a play that ended the tournament for Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby due to injury. That play made Gudas a target of voluminous and harsh criticism online.
“It was a tough penalty. It was a penalty,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “I’m not complaining about the call. There was no premeditation. It was just reflexes (that) did it. …
“I’ll leave it up to them (the NHL’s Department of Player Safety). I don’t know. But I know it’s just one of those split-second moves. We’ll see.”
Gudas has been suspended four times during his NHL career: three games for a headshot on Mika Zibanejad in 2015, six games for a headshot on Austin Czarnik in 2016, 10 games for a slash to Mathieu Perreault’s neck in 2017 and two games for high-sticking Nikita Kucherov in 2019.
Mar 13, 2026
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