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A repentant Radko Gudas was set to return to the Anaheim Ducks’ lineup on Tuesday night.
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Before the Ducks played in Vancouver against the Canucks, Gudas told media at Rogers Arena that he reached out to Matthews in the days after the incident, which happened on March 12 at Scotiabank Arena.
Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews takes a knee-on-knee hit from Anaheim Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas in Toronto on March 12, 2026. Photo by Nathan Denette /The Canadian Press
“We spoke and I never want to see anybody get hurt,” Gudas said. “I feel terrible about the outcome.
“I respect the league’s decision. I didn’t like the point of contact either. I have to learn, have to be better as a hockey player. I never want to go out there and hurt anybody. It’s very unfortunate.”
Matthews in recovery mode
Matthews underwent successful MCL surgery on his left knee last Thursday in New York and the Leafs said at the time that his recovery period would be approximately 12 weeks.
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Matthews’ season is done; Gudas, the Ducks captain, returns to a club that is in first place in the Pacific Division and could go on a playoff run.
It was the fifth suspension given to Gudas by the National Hockey League, and when he argued his case with the league, he pointed out that he had not been suspended since 2019.
“I’m doing everything in my power to stay on the right side, to play hard and be on the good side of it,” Gudas said.
“I really hate the way (the play) ended up. Just committed to the play and unfortunately that was the point of contact.”
The Leafs will have chance to respond to Gudas on March 30 when they visit Anaheim.
Certainly, it can’t be the same as what we saw when the hit happened: None of the Leafs on the ice at the time — William Nylander, Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo and Easton Cowan — thought it would have been in their best interest to try to go after Gudas.
The lack of immediate response, rightfully so, became a major talking point in the days that followed.
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