The Toronto Maple Leafs return home to the friendly confines of Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night with a 3-1 series advantage over the rival Tampa Bay Lightning following two consecutive overtime victories. The Leafs trailed in both games at Amalie Arena, only to roar back to steal victory from the jaws of defeat.
There was also a key lineup change that Toronto made after Michael Bunting was suspended following Tampa’s lopsided Game 1 loss for elbowing Tampa’s Erik Cernak in the head. Forward Matthew Knies, who was playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers earlier this month, was inserted into the lineup and had a positive impact. And he’s being rewarded with being kept in the lineup, while Bunting will be watching Game 5 from the press box.
“Very good hockey player,” raved head coach Sheldon Keefe. “It is really that simple. In addition to the talent, he has confidence and some swagger to him. He just goes out and plays.”
Knies, who only appeared in three regular season NHL games prior to being inserted into the playoffs, is playing with the poise of a veteran who doesn’t wilt under pressure on the big stage.
“Just with the puck, he doesn’t throw it away,” Keefe said. “Sometimes, he is hanging onto it a little bit too long, which is an adjustment for a player to make, but you like that he is skating with it. He plays with his head up. He has created some create scoring opportunities for others because he plays that way.”
“He is not intimidated in any way by the opposition because of the physicality or the pace. It doesn’t affect his game and his mindset. It makes you very comfortable playing him.”
Meanwhile, Knies is enjoying playing with captain John Tavares, who opened his home to him upon his call up to the Leafs, as well as Mitch Marner.
“Means a lot, obviously two special players who have unreal experience in the League, and they’re terrific complete players. It’s a privilege and pleasure to play with them,” Knies said.
“The coaching staff and the players here have done a wonderful job of welcoming me and I think just the support around me with the players has been the best so far, it’s made it so easy, the guys in the room,” he continued. “I have to thank them for that and I give a lot of credit to the coaching staff as well.”
“I came in here to compete and to try and contribute, and I think I’ve done a good job of that, and I just want to continue doing that. I just want to continue to compete and keep winning and go as far as we can.”
Game 5 between the Leafs and Lightning is tomorrow night from Scotiabank Arena.
