TORONTO – Matthew Knies began to really unfold his wings in final spring’s playoffs.
The Maple Leafs ahead stepped into the fray when Toronto defenceman Morgan Rielly received tousled with Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak throughout a Recreation 5 scrum.
Knies, who mocked the previous 61-goal man for not difficult him, then scored in extra time later that evening to maintain his group alive within the first-round collection.
The Leafs would go onto lose in seven video games, however the teenager represented a silver lining amid one other post-season disappointment.
The 22-year-old has continued down that path.
Knies scored twice and added an help Monday in Toronto’s 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The six-foot-three, 227-pound Phoenix product now has 18 objectives and 13 help for 31 factors enjoying a supporting position alongside Leafs stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on the membership’s prime line.
“Physicality and understanding what he does on the market,” Toronto head coach Craig Berube mentioned of the place he’s seen development in Knies. “He forechecks, will get free pucks after which he goes on to the online.
“He understands that Mitch and Auston will do their factor with the puck, and the (defencemen) are going to shoot.”
Matthews has watched a participant from an space near the place he grew up in Arizona flourish on the large stage this season.
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“Confidence,” the Leafs captain, who now has seven objectives over his final seven video games after opening the scoring towards Tampa, mentioned of Knies. “He’s such an enormous man and he’s received such an amazing ability set. The extra expertise he’s had, the higher he continues to get and the extra comfy he feels in his personal physique.
“A drive for us all season lengthy.”
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Knies mentioned the north-south, easy techniques employed by Berube, who performed a tough sport throughout his NHL profession, has helped his push in 2024-25.
“He desires to play easy and quick,” the winger chosen No. 57 on the 2021 draft mentioned of the Leafs’ first-year coach. “That’s what my sport is … I simply attempt to play for him and be taught as a lot as I can.”
The College of Minnesota product is now as much as 67 factors (33 objectives and 34 assists) in 129 regular-season video games to associate with seven extra (three objectives, 4 assists) in 14 playoff contests.
“He’s received somewhat little bit of every part,” Toronto goaltender Joseph Woll mentioned. “It’s actually powerful to cease.”
“He’s taking large steps,” Leafs winger William Nylander added. “He’s grown rather a lot and change into fairly the participant.”
Knies mentioned going from the NCAA to the skilled ranks was an adjustment on the fly after parachuting into the 2023 playoffs.
“Larger and stronger gamers,” he mentioned. “Getting that have and attending to play towards these guys and attending to practise towards a few of our gamers, it’s helped me rather a lot.”
Knies had a five-point evening earlier this month towards Boston and was near a second-career hat trick Monday.
“He’s been driving,” Berube mentioned. “Actually enjoying that energy forward-type sport to a T.”
PULLING BACK
Woll, who has handled accidents all through his profession earlier than this season, began for the fourth time in seven nights and made his twenty fifth look of 2024-25 to set a career-high.
Berube mentioned pre-game that typically goaltenders want their workload reined in by a group and its sports activities science division.
“I’ve all the time had a mindset of exhausting work,” mentioned Woll, 26. “It’s studying the right way to handle the load — when’s the precise time to reel it again and when’s the precise time to push it. We’ve received a fantastic employees and I belief them.”
POINT MADE
Lightning head coach Jon Cooper made ahead Brayden Level a wholesome scratch final week after he missed a group assembly.
The league’s longest-tenured bench boss defined that call — and when to attract the road — following the group’s morning skate.
“They’re superstars is as a result of they get it,” Cooper mentioned. “In the event that they aren’t held accountable, then who else goes to be? What will get underestimated in these conditions, it’s not the precise participant at occasions that feels it … it’s the remainder of the group.
“You need to ensure that every part goes easily for 82 video games, however we’ve all been round lengthy sufficient to know that’s not what occurs. No enjoyable to do it, however in the end, your job is to place your group in one of the best place to win, each bodily and mentally. Generally that has to occur.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 20, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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