Bruins' Zadorov deserves to be suspended for cheap shot on Auston Matthews

"The Toronto Maple Leafs got a devastating break on Tuesday night. They lost captain Auston Matthews to a lower-body injury following a hit from Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov midway through the second period. Zadorov hammered Matthews into the boards with a check from behind. While Auston Matthews got up on his own, he eventually went to the Maple Leafs dressing room and did not return."

"There's no word on the extent of the injury at the moment. Hopefully, the hit looked a lot worse than it really was. But the fact of the matter is that Zadorov took a cheap shot on Matthews. The Bruins' defenseman purposely hit Matthews from behind. Whether Zadorov intended to injure Matthews is something up for the Department of Player Safety to determine."

"Be that as it may, Zadorov deserves a suspension for the hit. It was a blatant hit from behind, potentially endangering Matthews. Now, the official word from the Maple Leafs is that Matthews sustained a lower-body injury. Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (lower body) and goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper body) will not return to tonight's game.- Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) November 12, 2025 If it's indeed a lower-body ailment, it might be something Matthews could recover from relatively quickly."

Auston Matthews suffered a lower-body injury after a hit from Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov midway through the second period and did not return. Zadorov checked Matthews from behind, driving him into the boards; Matthews initially got up but later left for the Maple Leafs dressing room. There is no official update on injury extent, and the Department of Player Safety will evaluate intent and discipline. The Maple Leafs announced Matthews and goaltender Anthony Stolarz would not return to the game. A suspension for Zadorov would be justified but would not compensate for a potentially extended absence by Matthews.

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