Gudas was given a five-game suspension Friday for kneeing Toronto's Auston Matthews in Thursday's game.

EDGE Analysis

Matthews sustained a season-ending knee injury on the play. Gudas was offered a phone hearing, so this was the maximum-length suspension possible without an in-person hearing. Gudas will be eligible to return March 24 versus the Canucks. John Carlson (lower body) should be able to make his Ducks debut at some point during Gudas' ban, but if that doesn't happen Saturday versus the Senators, look for both of Ian Moore and Drew Helleson to play on the blue line.

Gudas will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for his knee-on-knee hit on Toronto's Auston Matthews on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Gudas is expected to receive at least one game and likely longer, as this is not his first time in front of the department. Matthews was helped off the ice in the second period and did not return. Gudas has two goals, 11 assists, 156 hits, 83 blocked shots and 45 PIM over 52 games this season. The Ducks may need to call up a defenseman for their pair of weekend games if Gudas is unavailable and John Carlson (lower body) is not ready to return to action.

Gudas scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Friday's 6-5 shootout win over the Canadiens.

EDGE Analysis

Gudas had gone 39 games without a goal, and he had just one helper over his previous 11 contests. The 35-year-old blueliner rarely adds much offense, but he was able to get a puck through at 11:56 of the first period, tying this game at 2-2. The defenseman is up to 12 points, 57 shots on net, 153 hits, 81 blocked shots, 30 PIM and a minus-3 rating over 49 appearances. Gudas will likely play regularly on the third pairing once John Carlson (lower body) makes his Ducks debut.

Gudas posted an assist, four hits and two PIM in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Stars.

EDGE Analysis

Gudas helped out on Chris Kreider's opening goal in the second period. The 35-year-old Gudas had gone seven games without a point and missed two contests in that span due to an illness. The defenseman is at nine points, 41 shots on net, 116 hits, 58 blocked shots, 22 PIM and a minus-4 rating over 33 appearances. He's on pace to finish in the 16-18 point range that he's landed in for each of the last four years.

Gudas (illness) will be back in the lineup Friday versus Minnesota, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gudas missed a pair of games with the illness. He has one goal, seven assists, 94 hits and 49 blocked shots across 27 outings this season. Drew Helleson is slated to be the odd-man out of the lineup with the return of Gudas.

Gudas (illness) won't play against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Gudas will miss his second straight game, and it's unclear if he will be ready to play against Minnesota on Friday. He has compiled one goal, seven assists, 35 shots on net, 49 blocked shots and 94 hits across 27 appearances this season.

Gudas (illness) won't play against San Jose on Monday, according to Zach Cavanagh of The Sporting Tribune.

EDGE Analysis

Gudas will miss at least one game after being absent from Monday's morning skate. He has registered one goal, seven assists, 35 shots on net, 49 blocked shots and 94 hits across 27 appearances this season. Pavel Mintyukov will replace Gudas in Monday's lineup, while Drew Helleson will remain in the fold after it appeared as though he would be a healthy scratch based on Sunday's practice.

Gudas posted an assist, two shots on goal and five hits in Friday's 8-3 loss to the Stars.

EDGE Analysis

Gudas set up Ryan Poehling's first-period tally. This ended a five-game slump for Gudas, who has four helpers, 35 hits, 12 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating over 10 contests in December. For the season, the veteran defenseman is at seven points, 34 shots on net, 84 hits, 40 blocked shots and a minus-3 rating over 24 appearances.

Gudas scored a goal on two shots, added five PIM, doled out five hits and went plus-3 in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Bruins.

EDGE Analysis

This was Gudas' second game back in the lineup since he recovered from a lower-body injury. The 35-year-old defenseman got his first goal of the year, putting the Ducks ahead 2-0 early in the first period. He's at three points, 11 shots on net, 32 hits, 15 blocked shots, seven PIM and a minus-2 rating over nine appearances. Expect Gudas to be steady in the physical categories, though he could struggle to produce offense regularly even with the Ducks' improved scoring numbers this year.

Gudas (lower body) was activated from injured reserve but won't suit up Saturday versus the Wild, per Alexis Downie of Ducks Stream.

EDGE Analysis

Gudas must be healthy enough to play to be activated, but the Ducks will give Ian Moore at least one more chance in the lineup. Once he checks back in, Gudas is likely to occupy a bottom-four role.