TORONTO — Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews left Thursday night against Anaheim after a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas.
Trying to make a move around Gudas in the slot in the second period, Matthews took a direct blow to his left leg and crashed to the ice. The U.S. Olympic captain stayed down before being helped to the locker room.
Gudas, a bruising Czech defender whose hit ended Canadian captain Sidney Crosby‘s Olympics in the quarterfinals, was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct.
Matthews ended a 12-game goal drought earlier in the period on a power play. The center has 27 goals and 26 assists in 60 games this season.
