TORONTO -- Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews left Thursday night's contest against the Anaheim Ducks after a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas that drew a major penalty and game misconduct.
"Dirty play," said Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube, who didn't have an update on his star center. "League's going to obviously look at it and see what the suspension will be or whatever happens."
Trying to make a move around Gudas in the slot in the second period of Toronto's 6-4 victory, Matthews took a direct blow to his left leg and crashed to the ice. The U.S. Olympic captain stayed down before being helped to the locker room.
Gudas has a phone hearing with NHL Player Safety on Friday, which means he faces a maximum suspension of five games.
Gudas is a bruising Czech defender who ended Canadian captain Sidney Crosby's Olympics in the quarterfinals with a hit.
"He's done a few of those before in his career," Toronto winger Matthew Knies said.
Gudas was asked following Anaheim's morning skate about trying to contain Matthews.
"We got to be on top of him," Gudas said. "We got to make sure that he doesn't get space in the middle of the ice ... make his nights not enjoyable."
Ducks coach Joel Quenneville defended his player.
"There's no premeditation," Quenneville said. "Reflexes did it."
Matthews snapped a 12-game goal drought earlier in the period on a power play. He has 27 goals and 26 assists in 60 games this season.