Radko Gudas Given Hearing for Kneeing Auston Matthews

Anaheim’s Radko Gudas will have a hearing today for kneeing Toronto’s Auston Matthews. The hit took place on Thursday night during the Ducks vs. Maple Leafs game, when Gudas directly hit Matthews and took him out of the game. Matthews was helped off the ice and did not return.

Because the hearing is not in person, the maximum suspension is only five games if Gudas is suspended.

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Late in the second period, Matthews received a pass alone in the slot in front of the Anaheim net. Gudas charged hard, extended his left leg, and made direct knee-on-knee contact with Matthews’ left knee. Matthews immediately went down, clutched his leg, and needed help to the locker room. He didn’t return (lower-body injury; Leafs called it that post-game, no further update yet). Gudas was given a 5-minute major for kneeing + game misconduct (ejection).

It was clear there would be supplemental discipline: intentional knee contact, injury result, and Gudas’ rep for physical/edge play. Many outlets note this comes less than a month after he injured Sidney Crosby similarly at the Olympics—though Crosby himself said he didn’t blame Gudas for the incident.

There is no official ruling yet—DOPS typically announces quickly after hearings, so news could come later on Friday.

Maple Leafs fans won’t be happy with the decision, but others will suggest that if he gets four or five games, that’s likely fair. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was not pleased with the hit or his players’ response. He felt there could have been a better physical response from his team at the time.

Next: Matthews Injured, Maple Leafs Called Out for Lack of Response