The Toronto Maple Leafs were able to stay alive in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a gutsy 2-0 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 6 on Friday night. But while the victory extended their season and forced a Game 7 on home ice, it may have come at a cost.

Matthew Knies, one of Toronto’s most dependable forwards this postseason, is now a question mark heading into Sunday’s winner-take-all. The 22-year-old appeared to suffer an injury following an awkward collision with Panthers defenceman Niko Mikkola late in the first period. On the forecheck, Knies delivered a hit as Mikkola backed into him unexpectedly, causing contact along Knies’ left side.

Cameras caught the power forward on the bench appearing to say, “I can’t even move it.”

Knies did not return for the final shift of the period, and although he remained in the game, his usage was noticeably limited. He logged just 13:01 of ice time, which was down from his usual workload.

He registered one hit, one shot on goal, and was on the ice for Auston Matthews’ eventual game-winner in the third period. Following the win, head coach Craig Berube acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Knies heading into Game 7, saying he needed further evaluation.

“We don’t know right now,” Berube said when asked what Knies is dealing with. “He’s dealing with something here that happened, and we gotta look at him and see how he’s feeling tomorrow. We’ll see how he is.”

Berube added that his in-game management of Knies became a balancing act based on conversations with the winger, deploying him more selectively in situational moments.

“Just conversations with them. I used him in situational play more than anything, down the stretch there,” Berube said. “If he was good to go or he wasn't good to go, so it was more sense of me just talking to him on the bench and understanding where he was at the time.”

Knies’ absence from the top line and on the top power-play unit forced Toronto to get creative with their forward groupings. Max Pacioretty briefly replaced Knies on the man advantage, while Pontus Holmberg and Bobby McMann both saw time alongside Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner at five-on-five.

Despite clearly playing through pain, the former second-round pick earned praise from his teammates for gutting out the remainder of the game.

“That’s what you love to see,” said Marner. “That’s what a lot of people are battling through at this time of the year. It didn’t slow him down at all. He continued to battle, and that’s what you love to see.”

“I think he did a great job. He’s always been a horse for us, and he continues to be,” added McMann.

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Knies’ injury is particularly concerning given the physical nature of his game. 

A powerful skater and relentless forechecker, his ability to play with force has become an integral part of Toronto’s offensive identity. But throughout the second and third periods, he did not look like himself, wincing on the bench, and his skating appeared limited as he was seemingly just going through the motions.

“He’s a competitor. I thought he fought hard, he played hard. I don't know what the extent is as far as what he’s going through, but when he got out there, he was still hard on pucks, strong, and hopefully he’ll be good to go on Sunday,” said Matthews.

In 12 playoff games this year, Knies has recorded five goals, two assists, and seven points. The Leafs will want his presence in the lineup for Game 7 against the defending Stanley Cup champions, but his availability is uncertain.

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