Toronto Maple Leafs defeated Anaheim Ducks 6-4, with Auston Matthews scoring his first goal in 12 games before suffering a knee injury. The match turned sour after a controversial kneeing penalty on Matthews by Radko Gudas. Teammates expressed regret over not responding to the incident.
The Toronto Maple Leafs secured a 6-4 win against the Anaheim Ducks in an NHL game that highlighted both offensive prowess and a contentious injury. Auston Matthews broke a 12-game goal drought with a power-play goal in the second period, sparking a comeback. John Tavares and William Nylander followed with additional power-play tallies, allowing Toronto to seize control of the match.
The positive momentum was overshadowed by an incident in the same period. Anaheim's Radko Gudas received a match penalty for kneeing after colliding with Matthews. The Toronto forward remained on the ice briefly before receiving assistance from teammates and staff to leave, with his left knee appearing to absorb the impact.
Matthew Knies voiced strong disapproval of the tackle post-game. "Att det var Gudas som sänkte vår bäste spelare var ingen tillfällighet, vi har sett honom göra såna där saker tidigare," Knies told nhl.com, suggesting a pattern in Gudas's play.
Toronto players faced questions about their lack of immediate reaction to the hit. Defender Morgan Rielly acknowledged the oversight, stating, "Jag eller någon annan borde ha gjort det," admitting that he or another teammate should have responded more forcefully.
This event underscores ongoing discussions about player safety and on-ice responses in the league, though no further details on Matthews's condition were provided in immediate reports.
