Maple Leafs Hope Max Domi Can Relax Following Two-Point Performance Against Lightning
Domi set up Matthew Knies for a pair of third-period goals that helped the Leafs comeback to defeat the Lightning 4-3 in overtime.
WASHINGTON — Through the first four games of the regular season, it was difficult to see exactly where Max Domi fit on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.
While that comes with the territory of being one of several new players on a team, it looks like he finally settled into a groove on Saturday when he found himself skating with Matthew Knies in the third period. Down 3-1, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe reassembled his lines to overload Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and shortened his bench and Domi and Knies found themselves together.
Domi found Knies twice for helping his club force overtime before winning the game 4-3.
Knies was impressed with Domi's playmaking ability.
"He sees the ice really well and I think he has incredible sauce that can kind of pass by three or four sticks," Knies said. "He’s an incredible player and it’s very fun to play with him."
The Maple Leafs signed Domi to a one-year, $3 million contract this summer. He started the season on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander. He was moved down for a game with Knies before, but with 19-year-old rookie Fraser Minten at center.
This time, Domi and Knies had David Kampf as their center in the third period and perhaps that's the right mix to get the best out of Domi's offensive talents while being responsible in the defensive end.
"I'm hoping it allows him to just relax. To me that’s the biggest takeaway in the game," Keefe said of Domi's two assists. "I thought Max had a great game even before making those plays. But you can see pucks came in on good spots. He moved his feet and does what he does. He’s a playmaker. It’s great to see those guys connect. But for Max to come through for the team in that time was huge."
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vJ-PV02B-U[/embed]
The 28-year-old Domi has three assists through five games this season and is averaging 13:05 of ice time.
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