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Radko Gudas In: Expects Fireworks vs. Maple Leafs Over Dirty Hit

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | Last updated Mar 30, 2026 4:49 PM ET

Radko Gudas will be in the lineup against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night, and despite it being best he sit out to recover from an injury, he’s coming in anyway, solely to answer the bell for ending Auston Matthews‘ season with a knee-on-knee hit.

Gudas has said he regrets the play and understands that Matthews’ teammates are out to settle a score. Gudas doesn’t want any of his teammates to fight that battle for him, so he’s coming back into the lineup prematurely to take his lumps.

Gudas spoke to the media and explained why he’s playing through injury to face the Leafs tonight: “Stand behind my own mistakes. I want to address it myself.”

The Ducks’ captain was suspended for five games for the hit on Matthews that resulted in a Grade 3 MCL tear for the Leafs’ captain. Gudas returned to the lineup and suffered an injury of his own. “I’m good to play,” when asked if he’s really healthy enough to be in.

He’s expecting fireworks too. He said he imagines it will be an intense game. “Well, he knows,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “And he’s got character. We know that.”

Gudas and Ducks Want It Settled With Maple Leafs Quickly

He’s hoping to get whatever is coming out of the way. “When it’s addressed early in the game, everybody can … I don’t want to say relax a little bit, but everybody knows that the thing is going to be addressed. So, I would assume something like that’s going to happen.”

If the fight (or whatever else happens) comes early, it will be intriguing to see if Gudas plays a full game like he would if healthy, or if the Ducks shut him down after answering the bell and accomplishing what he wants to by coming back in to deal with the retribution.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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