As if things weren’t going poorly enough for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have been anything but fully healthy this season, they may now have to deal with an injury to team captain Auston Matthews, thanks to the dirty and unnecessary actions by an opponent.
Matthews was shaken up after Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas struck him with a knee-on-knee hit in close proximity to the net. Matthews immediately fell to the ice and was soon tended to by team trainers, though it was an encouraging sign that he was eventually able to skate off the ice under his own power.
The Maple Leafs have since announced that Matthews is finished for the evening and will not return to the game.
Meanwhile, Gudas was ejected from the game after his major penalty was upheld via video review. On the power-play, John Tavares tallied to tie the game for the Maple Leafs at 3-3.
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Toronto Maple Leafs Team Captain Auston Matthews Was Shaken Up
Matthews was shaken up after Gudas was whistled for a major penalty for his knee-on-knee collision in close proximity to the net.
Matthews, who is skating in his 10th NHL season, has scored 27 goals with 26 assists in 59 games played.
Ironically, it was also a hit by Gudas that took out Sidney Crosby, team captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Team Canada, late last month during the 2026 Milan Olympics; Crosby was ruled out for approximately four weeks because of the hit from Gudas, who was playing for Team Czechia.
Matthews, who also played during the Olympics, helped Team USA win the gold medal for the first time since the iconic “Miracle on Ice” of 1980 in Lake Placid, New York.
The Maple Leafs have already had to endure multiple injuries to key players this season, including Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, William Nylander, Anthony Stolarz, and Calle Jarnkrok.
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Auston Matthews Had Broken A Multi-Game Scoreless Drought
Matthews managed to tally his 27th goal of the season for the Maple Leafs against the Ducks, breaking what was a 12-game goalless drought.
Following their skate on Thursday morning, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said that he knew it was rough going for Matthews, who is only two seasons removed from scoring 69 goals.
“It’s a good question, I don’t really think I’ll get into all of that right now,” he said when asked why he believes Matthews hasn’t been scoring of late. “He has had some tough luck, to be honest with you. It’s not from him not getting his opportunities. It is not every night, but he gets a lot of opportunities. Whether it is a post, or a goalie makes a save, all sorts of things play into it. Hopefully, he can break out of it tonight.”
Matthews had been experiencing a nagging injury last season, for which he sought treatment in Germany.
Barrring a miraculous comeback in the standings that would require multiple consecutive victories, along with the clubs ahead of them starting to frequently lose, the Maple Leafs will be watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs from home this season.
Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Hurt After Dirty Knee-On-Knee Hit