Bruins' Nikita Zadorov Addresses Hard Hit on Auston Matthews

Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Bruins' Nikita Zadorov Addresses Hard Hit on Auston Matthews

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Nov 12, 2025 10:30 AM ET

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews left Tuesday’s 5–3 loss to the Boston Bruins after a second-period hit from defenseman Nikita Zadorov sent him into the boards.

Matthews exited shortly after the hit and did not return, with the Leafs ruling him out for the remainder of the game with a lower-body injury

Although the play drew heavy criticism from the Maple Leafs coach and players, Zadorov offered a different perspective on the hit.

“It was just a normal play,” Zadorov said. “I didn’t really hit him. I hit with my right shoulder. Ninety-nine percent of my hits in the NHL are with my right shoulder.”

Zadorov added that he wasn’t sure which part of the contact caused the injury.

“I’m not sure on what hit he got hurt either. Like when he went after me again, I kind of hit him. Or maybe when I played the puck, I hit him with the puck,” Zadorov said. “We don’t know. I’m not going to speculate on that.”

Zadorov on his hit that may have been what injured Auston Matthews:

"It was just a normal play. I didn't really hit him. I hit my right shoulder, 99% of my hits in the NHL are with my right shoulder..."

"There was really no intention to hurt him. I play hard against top players… pic.twitter.com/09ZHnwoLkn
— Bridgette Proulx (@bridgetteproulx) November 12, 2025

The veteran blueliner insisted the hit wasn’t reckless and he wasn't trying to injure Matthews.

“There really wasn’t any intention to hurt him or anything like this,” Zadorov said. “Just play hard against the top players on the other team. That’s my job.”

Matthews logged just over 10 minutes of ice time before leaving, and Leafs head coach Craig Berube later confirmed the lower-body designation without providing a return timeline.

Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) looks on during a stoppage of play.Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The play drew a reaction from Max Domi, who challenged Zadorov during the third period. Zadorov declined.

“He’s my ex-teammate,” Zadorov said about his decision of not fighting Domi. “I’m not going to fight my friend. I have respect for Max there to go after me. For my style and what I did to his teammates, I guess.”

Domi threw a few punches and cross-checks toward Zadorov, but the Bruins blueliner stood still and kept his gloves on.

5’10” Max Domi goes after 6’7” Zadorov.

He may not be playing his best, but you absolutely love to see that from Max — especially after what happened to Laughton and Matthews.#LeafsForever

pic.twitter.com/19XzHlGfsz
— Leafslatest (@Leafslatest) November 12, 2025

“Like I told Max, he’s way shorter than me and smaller than me,” Zadorov said. “It’s a lose-lose situation for me if I fight him. There was no point for me to do anything there.”

Zadorov emphasized that the game situation played a role in his decision.

“Some guys are going to ask for it because their best player got hurt. I respect that,” he said. “But I can decline as well when it’s a two-goal game, one-goal game. You’ve got to understand the flow of the game.”

Later in the game, however, Zadorov did engage in a confrontation called out by Bruins coach Marco Sturm. After Sammy Blais delivered a knee-on-knee hit to Charlie McAvoy, Zadorov dropped Blais to the ice.

Zadorov logged 19:44 of ice time with three hits in the Bruins’ 5–3 win, with Boston moving to an 11-7-0 record on the season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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