'I Always Appreciate When Someone Steps In Like That': Maple Leafs' Max Domi Adds to His Hockey Smile After Losing Another Tooth, Appreciates Matthew Knies Stepping Up For Him
Domi lost a tooth after taking a stick to the mouth from Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman John Ludvig.
Max Domi already had a glorious smile. On Saturday, the big gap in the front of the upper part of his mouth widened after the Toronto Maple Leafs forward took a stick to the face from Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman John Ludvig.
Domi seemed to laugh it off afterwards, showing that he lost a tooth on the hit.
Domi was promoted into the top-six forward group on Saturday after it was learned late that Auston Matthews would not be available to play in the team's 7-0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins due to illness.
As a result, Domi centered a line with Matthew Knies and Mitch Marner and found instant chemistry. Domi led the Leafs with three points (a goal and two assists) and Knies stepped up by coming to the forward's defense after the hit with his first NHL fight.
"I always appreciate when someone steps in like that and stands up for me," Domi said of Knies. "He's a great teammate and that's what it takes to win. A young kid willing to do something like that is great to see."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AllPMk1-gAc[/embed]
Should Knies and Domi stay together?
Domi's three-point night and Knies' Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assists and fight) begs the question if the duo should remain on a line together.
Knies and Domi were first paired together in the third period of Toronto's 4-3 overtime comeback win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Oct. 21. In that game, Domi provided the primary assist on a pair of goals from Knies. They remained on a line together with David Kampf as their center for several games until the line was broken up amid struggles throughout the team's lineup.
This time, however, Domi was a center instead of another winger.
When Auston Matthews comes back, there's no doubt he'll be back on that top line. But given the chemistry and Knies and Domi, there's another data point for head coach Sheldon Keefe to ponder.
Calle Jarnkrok had some success on the top line before with Matthews. Perhaps Jarnkrok and Knies can flip spots? Time will tell.
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