The rookie forward scored two third-period goals and added an assist to help his club earn a comeback win against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
TAMPA — It would be understandable for Matthew Knies to show some signs of frustration.
Despite some excellent scoring chances through the first four games of the regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie forward had been held off the scoresheet.
That was until Saturday night when the Arizona native exploded for a pair of third-period goals at a time when his team needed it to force overtime before John Tavares scored the winner to complete a 4-3 comeback overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
"We talked about trying to get the puck up throughout the night and he was able to do that. Especially on the second one, which is not an easy play there," Tavares said of Knies. "To be able to do that all in one motion is impressive. We know what his potential is and the impact that he can make. He’s just scratching the surface. We’re excited (about) what he’s brought to the team and what’s ahead for him."
Knies joined the Maple Leafs with the games remaining in the 2022-23 regular season and the club is hoping he'll build off his impressive 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs performance where he proved to the club that he's ready to take the next step in his hockey career. It would have been easy for the rookie to be discouraged, but he kept a positive disposition throughout and was rewarded for it with his three-point performance on Saturday.
"He just hasn’t got down on himself," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Knies. "It hasn’t gone the way that he would want it to — we have a lot of guys in that boat — but he hasn’t gotten down on himself. He’s just stayed with it. Pretty even keel."
Knies admitted scoring should just add positive reinforcement for him and a player like Max Domi, who set him up for both tallies.
"I think it just gives me a little more confidence," Knies said. The chances were there earlier in the season but they just weren’t clicking and weren’t executing. So it’s kind of nice to get that on the board. It gives me and Domi just a little more confidence just to have those two fall."
The Leafs had big hopes for Knies when they selected him in the second round (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. His promising play with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers over the last two seasons helped increase that enthusiasm. Now an everyday NHLer, Knies can help bring some stability to the left-wing depth on the Leafs.
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