Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews sustained a knee injury during a game against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, March 12, 2026, after a hit from Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas. The incident, which led to Gudas’s ejection, has sparked criticism regarding both the play itself and the response – or lack thereof – from Matthews’s teammates.
The injury occurred during the second period when Gudas delivered a knee-on-knee hit to Matthews, resulting in a five-minute major penalty for kneeing and a game misconduct. Matthews immediately grabbed his left knee and had to be helped off the ice. He did not return for the third period, and is scheduled to undergo an MRI to assess the extent of the damage.
“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.”
Adding fuel to the fire, none of Matthews’s Maple Leafs teammates retaliated against Gudas following the hit. This lack of response drew immediate criticism from fans and observers, with many questioning the team’s physical intensity. Players like Michael Pezzetta, who was in the lineup and had engaged in a fight earlier in the game, did not attempt to respond to the play.
“Auston Matthews took a knee-on-knee hit and his teammates watched,” one observer noted, reflecting the sentiment circulating on social media. Reilly and Nylander lamented the lack of immediate reaction from the team, stating that someone “should have jumped in.”
John Tavares expressed his displeasure with the hit, stating, “I didn’t like it. He really clips him pretty good. I thought it was dirty.”
Gudas has a history of controversial plays, including an incident during the 2026 Olympics that prematurely ended Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby’s tournament. The NHL’s Department of Player Safety is expected to review the play and determine if further disciplinary action is warranted.
Despite the loss of their captain, the Maple Leafs were able to secure a win against the Ducks. However, the focus remains on Matthews’s injury and the questions surrounding the team’s response to the hit. The Ducks coach, Joel Quenneville, defended Gudas, stating, “It was a tough penalty. It was a penalty…There was no premeditation. It was just reflexes.”
