Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters today that forward Matthew Knies sustained a concussion in Game 2 of the team’s Second Round series against the Florida Panthers and is unlikely to return for the remainder of the series.
Keefe has already ruled Knies out for Games 3 and 4 as Toronto tries to battle back from a 2-0 series deficit. Knies was injured on contact with Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the first period of last night’s game, skating one shift before leaving the game for good. Bennett was assessed a fine today for a separate incident in the game involving Toronto winger Michael Bunting.
Knies, who just played his 10th NHL game combined between the regular season and playoffs, had registered four points through six previous games for Toronto in the postseason. He’d moved further and further up the lineup with strong play, earning ice time alongside Auston Matthews. Needless to say, it’s a significant loss for Toronto.
The injury opens up opportunity for Calle Jarnkrok to slot back into a top-line role alongside Matthews. Jarnkrok looked more than comfortable in that role down the stretch of the regular season and for a few games against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, helping Toronto gain some of their most dominant shifts of the series.
Not sure why Knies is getting so much attention, It seems like the Toronto media is building up a very pedestrian 3rd line player. I have seen him play 2 or 3 games and I just can’t see the hype.
Because you’re an idiot
Wilf, at this point you make it too easy. Please keep posting.
he’s at least a 2nd line player. maybe you saw his first 2-3 games when he was on the third line in his NHL debut
Soft player on a soft team, leaves are wilting
his head was driven into the ice after the hit. how is that soft?
I’ve seen much worse reactions to less from Leafs players and others in this playoff alone.