Teammates emphasize rally after Matthew Knies sticks up for teammate Morgan Rielly in Game 5 victory.
Teammates emphasize rally after Matthew Knies sticks up for teammate Morgan Rielly in Game 5 victory.
Despite playing in his first full season in a Maple Leafs uniform at the young age of 21 years old, forward Matthew Knies “has that edge to him,” says veteran defenseman Joel Edmundson.
Playing just over 17 minutes, recording 4 shots on goal, paired with 3 hits and a blocked shot on top of scoring the game-winning goal in overtime in Game 5, Knies certainly left his mark on Tuesday night.
Perhaps the most memorable moment for the team to rally behind was the altercation between Bruins right-winger David Pastrnak and eventually, Matthew Knies. After a scrum had ensued in front of the Bruins’ net following a loose puck battle near the end of the second period, Rielly and Pastrnak had gotten tangled up with one another.
Knies, quite frankly, took exception to the heated battle and intervened to protect the Leafs’ best defenseman.
"He’s going after our best defenseman and I just don’t like to see that. I don’t want Mo to get into interactions like that. I need him to focus on the game and helping us win," Knies told reporters, including TSN's Mark Masters."
To the Leafs’ pleasure, this mentality and attitude from the youngest player on the roster in an elimination game is inspiring. Long-serving NHL defenseman Joel Edmundson, who was acquired at this year’s trade deadline (Mar. 7.) spoke highly of Knies, and just how motivating this interaction was.
“He might be a rookie, but he's a big kid. He plays heavy. He's obviously talented, but he's got that edge to him, which I noticed in the playoffs here. So it's good to see, and obviously we rallied behind stuff like that.”
With Game 6 on the horizon, Knies is emerging at the right time as the team continues to find ways to maneuver without both Auston Matthews and Bobby McMann. After standing his ground against one of the game’s established superstars on the road, it’s clear that Knies’ teammates asserted themselves around him, shifting the momentum in their favor.
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