Brutal hit injures Auston Matthews: now Radko Gudas and Leafs teammates face fallout!

A scary moment unfolded Thursday night when Auston Matthews, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, left the game after taking a dangerous knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas of the Anaheim Ducks.

The incident occurred with just over four minutes remaining in the second period. Matthews had just received a pass near the Ducks’ net when Gudas charged toward him. Matthews tried to avoid the contact, but the Ducks captain extended his leg, leading to a knee-on-knee collision that immediately sent the Leafs star down to the ice in visible pain.

Matthews stayed down for several moments before being helped off and taken to the locker room. Early in the third period, the team confirmed he would not return due to a lower-body injury and will be re-evaluated Friday.

Officials assessed Gudas a five-minute major and game misconduct, and the hit could now draw the attention of the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety.

Watch the hit and aftermath in the video below:

Leafs head coach Craig Berube didn’t mince words afterward.

“It’s a dirty play. The league’s going to obviously look at it,” Berube said.

But the coach was just as frustrated with his own team’s reaction. Toronto players did not immediately confront Gudas after the hit.

“We should’ve had four guys in there doing something about it,” Berube added.

Matthews, who had already scored his 27th goal of the season earlier in the game after being held scoreless since the Olympic break, now becomes the center of attention for a very different reason as the Leafs await both injury updates and potential discipline.

I guess we will find out more today...