Maple Leafs beat Ducks 6-4 to end 8-game slide. Matthews injured on knee-on-knee hit

TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander broke a tie on a power play 36 seconds into the third period and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Anaheim Ducks 6-4 on Thursday night to end an eight-game losing streak.

The victory was tempered by the loss of captain Auston Matthews on a knee-on-knee hit from Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas with four minutes left in the second period. Matthews stayed down favoring his left leg before being helped to the locker room. Gudas was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct.

Matthews scored earlier to end a 12-game goal drought.

Matias Maccell had a goal and two assists, and John Tavares and Benoit-Olivier Groulx also scored. Matthew Knies had three assists to go along with an empty-net goal, and Nylander added two assists. Joseph Woll made 36 saves.

Cutter Gauthier, Ian Moore, Pavel Mintyukov and Alex Killorn scored for Pacific Division-leading Anaheim. Lukas Dostal stopped 22 shots.

The Maple Leafs are 1-6-2 since the Olympic break to sink any realistic hope of a 10th straight playoff appearance. They won at home for the first time since Jan. 10.

Ducks: At Ottawa on Saturday.

Maple Leafs: At Buffalo on Saturday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews (34) is helped off the ice after being injured by Anaheim Ducks Radko Gudas during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews, left, is injured by Anaheim Ducks Radko Gudas during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews (34) is injured by Anaheim Ducks Radko Gudas (7) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) is scored on as Jake McCabe (22), Brandon Carlo (25) and Anaheim Ducks Chris Kreider (20) watch during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs Michael Pezzetta (61) fights with Anaheim Ducks Jeffrey Viel (28) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms Thursday with fullback and special teams captain Brady Russell on a two-year contract.

Russell appeared in all 17 games for Seattle last season, and was a captain for the Seahawks in their 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The three-year veteran was signed by Seattle as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado.

“It means the world,” Russell told the team website. “I was definitely hoping to stay here, we’ve built something really special, and it’s really cool to be a part of the initial team when (coach) Mike (Macdonald) came in and be a part of what we’ve built.”

Russell was one of Seattle's seven restricted free agents, a group that includes two other players who have already re-signed. Linebacker Drake Thomas and the Seahawks agreed to a two-year contract last week while Seattle also tendered a contract to wide receiver Jake Bobo.

The Seahawks also re-signed backup offensive lineman Josh Jones on Thursday.

Seattle is also finalizing a deal with safety Rodney Thomas II, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was not complete. Thomas appeared in 17 games for the Indianapolis Colts last season, his fourth in the NFL.

Running back Emanuel Wilson is also finalizing a one-year contract with Seattle, a person with knowledge of the situation said, again speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal was not complete.

Wilson appeared in 17 games for the Green Bay Packers last season, rushing for 496 yards and two touchdowns as the primary backup to Josh Jacobs.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Josh Jones warms up before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Dec. 14, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear, File)

FILE - Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) looks on from the bench before a NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

FILE - Seattle Seahawks fullback Brady Russell looks to the stands prior to an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones, File)