Upcoming Matchup: Maple Leafs vs. Ducks
In St. Louis, the Toronto Maple Leafs are anticipating their upcoming encounter with the Anaheim Ducks, a matchup that carries significant emotional weight due to a past incident. It was during their earlier game on March 12 when Ducks captain Radko Gudas inflicted a knee-on-knee hit on Leafs captain Auston Matthews, which ultimately sidelined Matthews for the remainder of the season.
Following the hit, Toronto forward Max Domi expressed eagerness for a rematch, stating, “We’ll see ‘em in a couple of weeks.”
Gudas’s Injury Status
However, uncertainty surrounds Gudas’s participation in Monday’s game due to a recent lower-body injury sustained during a contest against the Calgary Flames. After that game, Gudas was seen exiting the Scotiabank Saddledome in a walking boot and did not play in the subsequent loss to the Edmonton Oilers. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Gudas is determined to take the ice against Toronto, but his availability will ultimately depend on clearance from the team’s medical staff.
The situation is complicated by the potential for retribution from the Maple Leafs, who were criticized for not responding aggressively to Gudas’s earlier hit on Matthews.
“It’s obviously a game that means a lot for our side, so we’ll be pretty fired up,” said Maple Leafs forward William Nylander after a disappointing 5-1 defeat to the St. Louis Blues.
Current Team Performance
The Leafs are currently struggling, having dropped to fifth-worst in the NHL with a points percentage of .507, which offers them a glimmer of hope in retaining a top-five protected first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, thanks to a previous trade involving defenseman Brandon Carlo.
As the Maple Leafs prepare for the challenge posed by the Pacific Division-leading Ducks, they’ve been criticized for appearing lethargic on the ice. Head coach Craig Berube commented on the team’s recent performance, calling out players for their lack of effort.
“You can’t go out and do stupid things—suspensions and things like that. That’s not what it’s all about. But we definitely have to go out and play a physical, hard game against that team,” Berube emphasized.
With only eight games remaining, it remains to be seen if the thirst for vengeance against Anaheim can ignite a spark in the Leaf roster as they look to break their current slump. Regardless of Gudas’s status, the anticipation for a competitive and potentially heated game on Monday at Honda Center is building among fans and players alike.
