Ducks' Gudas ejected after knee-on-knee hit with Leafs' Matthews

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas was assessed a five-minute major and ejected from Thursday's tilt against the Toronto Maple Leafs after colliding knee-on-knee with Auston Matthews during the second period.

The major penalty was upheld after review.

Matthews stayed down on the ice after the hit and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old snapped a 12-game goal drought minutes before the hit.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube called the hit a "dirty play," per TSN's Mark Masters, and noted Matthews will undergo further evaluation Friday. Berube was also irked by his club's lack of response to the play.

"We should have had four guys in there doing something about it," Berube said, according to SDPN's Jesse Blake. "I thought they responded in the third .. But we all would have liked everyone to get in there right away."

Veteran defenseman Morgan Rielly took ownership for the Leafs not sticking up for their captain.

"It's on me for not responding earlier to Gudas," Rielly said, according to The Athletic's Jonas Siegel. "It's a dirty hit. I didn't understand how bad he got him in the moment. But I take full responsibility for not being the first one in there."

Gudas has built a reputation for his physical play across a 14-year NHL career. He's registered 100-plus hits in all but one of his seasons, and has been suspended four times. His most recent ban came in 2019.

The Maple Leafs scored twice on the power play from Gudas' hit and ultimately won 6-4, snapping an eight-game losing streak.