John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Maple Leafs’ Craig Berube wanted immediate response to Radko Gudas hitting Auston Matthews

Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Michael Mazzei | Last updated Mar 13, 2026 7:00 AM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was critical of his team’s lack of an immediate response to captain Auston Matthews being injured by Anaheim Ducks defenceman Radko Gudas.

Gudas stuck his knee out intentionally and clipped Matthews in the offensive zone during the second period. He immediately crashed to the ice and was assisted off the ice by trainers after he was initially slow to get up while favouring his left knee. As a result of the hit, Gudas was issued a five-minute major and game misconduct.

The Leafs ruled Matthews out for the remainder of the game with a lower-body injury. Berube told reporters after the game that Matthews would be evaluated further on Friday.

“A dirty play. The league will obviously look at and see what the suspension will be or whatever,” Berube said of the hit. “We should’ve had four guys in there doing something about it, but it didn’t happen. But I thought they responded in the third. It was a good response there, but we all would’ve liked everybody to get in there right away.”

Radko Gudas ➡️ Auston Matthews • #NHL #HFhits #FlyTogether #LeafsForever • 2026 MAR 12
• Gudas received a kneeing major and a game misconduct
Vid via @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/0PkXbiTFTI

— HockeyFights.com (@hockeyfights) March 13, 2026

The Leafs’ lack of an immediate response to Matthews getting injured on this play drew heavy backlash from fans and media members alike, especially given this wasn’t the first time a hit of this nature went unpunished in the immediate aftermath. While the Leafs were able to score two goals on the ensuing power play, it was difficult to ignore that their initial reaction was to skate around idly by.

It is worth noting that the Leafs did pick up the pace from a physicality standpoint from that moment on, as there were numerous instances where they went after Ducks players and even dropped the gloves. One such incident occurred when Easton Cowan immediately responded to Jackson LaCombe’s hit on Nick Robertson in the third period.

“ Yeah it was great. I mean, it was a lot of what we talked about,” Berube said of Cowan standing up for Robertson. “I thought that everybody went out and did what we asked in the third period, including Cowboy getting involved and going after one of their best players.”

Berube didn’t get into detail about what it was like inside the Leafs’ dressing room during the second intermission, but it was clear that he wasn’t happy with how the Leafs handled Matthews getting injured. Morgan Rielly and William Nylander held themselves accountable for their poor response to the play, indicating that they took to heart whatever exactly they were told by their coach.

As the lost season continues to wind down, Berube feels that there has to be a sense of pride that needs to be instilled in the players that is carried over into the next campaign.

“It shows that you need passion, emotion in the game, to be successful,” he said. “It really does. We all know that. And they played with passion and emotion in the third.”