Matthews Out, Leafs Regroup After Knee Injury

0:00It's March 14, here's your NHL news in two minutes, subscribe to stay locked in all season. Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Austin Matthews is done for the rest of the 2025-26 season after suffering a grade 3 medial. Collateral ligament tear and a quad contusion. This severe knee injury sidelines, one of the league's top scorers, just as the playoffs approach. The damage happened late in the second period of a 6-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Ducks captain Radco Goudaus delivered a neon knee hit, earning a 5-minute major penalty in game misconduct. Officials scheduled a phone hearing for Goudaus that same day, March 13, 2026, to consider a suspension of up to 5 games, or a, 5. Fans and teammates are reeling from the loss of their franchise leader. Matthews posted 53 points with 27 goals and 26 assists over 60 games this year. He also helped team USA win gold at the recent Winter Olympics, adding three goals and four assists in six outings.

1:03The timing hurts extra after the Leafs traded forward, Bobby McMahon, for draft picks. Meanwhile, scrutiny falls on Goudaus and lead player safety. He has four prior suspensions, totaling 21 games, missed, and over $750,000, and four fitted pay for hits, like slashing, and high sticks. He even injured Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sydney Crosby with a hit during the Olympics, leaving Crosby with a grade 2 MCL tier. The Leafs now regroup without their captain, focusing on depth to stay in the playoff hunt. Matthew starts rehab and gets re-evaluated in two weeks, but his absence changes everything for Toronto's offense. The Daily News Now is grateful to our sponsor for today's episode. It looks like a pillow. It sounds like headphones, built for comfort and sound, S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.