Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews (34) is injured by Anaheim Ducks Radko Gudas (7) during second period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

By The Canadian Press

Ducks defenceman Gudas given five-game suspension for knee-on-knee hit on Matthews

Mar 13, 2026 | 7:35 AM

NEW YORK — Anaheim defenceman Radko Gudas was given a five-game suspension by the NHL on Friday for kneeing and injuring Toronto’s Auston Matthews.

Gudas had a hearing with the league’s department of player safety for his hit that injured the Maple Leafs captain in a game on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena.

The five-game ban was the maximum that could be levied because his hearing was by phone.

The knee-on-knee hit occurred at 15:47 of the second period of the Ducks’ 6-4 loss. Gudas received a major penalty and game misconduct on the play, which resulted in Matthews exiting the game with a left leg injury.

The Maple Leafs confirmed Friday that Matthews would miss the rest of the season with a Grade 3 tear of his medial collateral ligament. He also suffered a bruised quadriceps muscle.

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Gudas will forfeit US$104,166.65 in salary. The money goes to the players’ emergency assistance fund.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2026.

The Canadian Press