Maple Leafs Lose Star Auston Matthews for Season After Brutal Knee Injury
Devastating blow for Toronto as scoring phenom Auston Matthews suffers Grade 3 MCL tear, expected to miss rest of NHL campaign following ugly hit by Radko Gudas.
Toronto Maple Leafs star center Auston Matthews will miss the remainder of the NHL season after suffering a devastating knee injury in Thursday night's game against the Anaheim Ducks. The team announced on Friday that Matthews has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 tear of his left medial collateral ligament (MCL), an injury that typically requires 4-6 months of recovery time.
The injury occurred in the third period when Radko Gudas of the Ducks delivered a reckless knee-on-knee hit on Matthews, who immediately crumpled to the ice in agony. Replays showed Gudas clearly extended his leg and made direct contact with Matthews' knee, a dangerous and illegal play that will likely result in a suspension from the league.
{{IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER}}The loss of Matthews is a massive blow to the Maple Leafs' playoff hopes, as the 25-year-old American is the team's leading scorer and one of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL. Matthews had 40 goals and 31 assists in 63 games this season, putting him on pace for another 50-goal campaign.
Source: The Guardian
