NHL Hockey 8-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 14, 2026, 4:53 AM ET

Disciplinary Action

The NHL suspended defenseman Radko Gudas for five games following a knee-on-knee hit that ended Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews' season. The Department of Player Safety levied the ban after the incident occurred during the Anaheim Ducks' game, focusing on the severe injury outcome.

Season-Ending Impact

Matthews' injury terminates his campaign prematurely, removing the Maple Leafs' top scorer from their roster as they navigate the final stretch of the regular season. The Ducks will be without Gudas, a physical defenseman, for five contests during their own late-season schedule.