TORONTO – The last time Matthew Knies looked this engaged — this reckless, as his coach would put it — these same Boston Bruins were standing between the Toronto Maple Leafs and victory.
Sure, the Bruins got the last laugh in last spring’s seven-game epic between these bitter rivals, but the seed of growth we’re witnessing from the 22-year-old power forward in his sophomore season was planted back in April.
Whether it was his two goals or his physical presence or his willingness to stick up for older teammates and get all up in the face of superstar David Pastrnak when stakes were highest, Knies served as a bright light of hope in the wake of another lost playoff series.
So much so, that when speaking of the Maple Leafs’ weapons at morning skate, Bruins captain Brad Marchand pointed out Knies’ improved impact unprompted.
And that was before the 227-pound Arizonan exploded for three goals, five points, and a plus-6(!) rating in Toronto’s 6-4 thriller over the Bruins Saturday night.
“That was a whole year for me,” quipped enforcer-turned-coach Craig Berube, after seeing the kid’s stat line.
“He was a great player tonight. Just challenging their D with his speed. Direct shooting. I like that he just attacked and shot and wasn’t always looking for the other guys.”
The other guys — linemates Auston Matthews (one goal, two assists, plus-5) and Mitch Marner (one goal, four assists, plus-5) — weren’t too shabby either, as Toronto’s reunited top line outscored the Bruins 3-0 and out-chanced them 8-3 in 11:40 of 5-on-5 action.
Energized by the double jolt of facing a worthy nemesis — “Definitely our biggest rival at this point,” Marchand said — and welcoming the return of their captain, the Maple Leafs created offensively and were determined defensively.
“I mean, it felt like a playoff game today, with the physicality and the back-and-forth play,” Knies said. “Give ’em props. They played a hell of a game and a very good team over there. And I think we capitalized on our chances today. It was a good effort from everyone.”
None more so than first star Knies, whom Berube had recently spoken to about a recent dip in performance that could be traced back to the head injury he suffered from a Zach Whitecloud hit.
Berube requested the left winger act more “reckless.” Get more involved. Use his large frame and fleet feet.
That he did Saturday, driving the slot for a deft tip, finding soft ice to pound home a smart Matthews feed from below the line, and making the Scotiabank Arena gasp with his blind backhander in tight and in motion.
“A couple of those were some high-end goals,” marvelled Marner, who was tempted to set Knies up for a fourth goal before delivering the winning empty-netter himself.
Added Berube: “I think offensively, he’s obviously come out of his shell.”
Knies, a pending RFA, is up to 14 goals and 24 points through 38 games in his platform year, yet Berube pointed out the strides he has made as a penalty killer and 200-foot force as well.
The coach singled out a late Bruins’ back-door tap-in attempt at 6-on-5 that Knies denied by dropping to a knee and eliminating the chance.
At his best, the forward forechecks with abandon, makes quick puck decisions, and spots lanes to create.
“Tonight, he really showed the potential that he has, and he’s just going to continue to get better. He’s a big part of our team,” Matthews said. “I’m sure a big confidence boost for him.”
Knies confirmed his centreman’s theory: “It felt incredible. I felt the luck back on my side.”
Toronto’s veteran shutdown pair of Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev were discussing just the other day how difficult it is to contain the hardworking Knies in practice drills, particularly below the dots.
“He’s an absolute horse down there, and you can’t get the puck from him,” McCabe explained. “Just using his frame and his speed, he’s really understanding how much of a tool that is for him, and he can dominate down low with the puck.”
That dominance, by Knies’s own admission, slipped for a few weeks.
Blame it on a head injury that would give any of us pause, or the absence of a superstar centerman, or a run of tough puck luck, or an emerging talent still trying to unlock the key to his outsized frame and surviving the 82-game grind.
“I think there was a little bit missing. I just don’t think I was as direct, as physical. Kind of lacked shooting in my game. I think there was some bounces that just didn’t go my way,” Knies said.
“But I kind of moved past it. That’s hockey. And fortunately, it’s going my way now.”
Fox’s Fast Five
• McCabe celebrated with aggression after absolutely ripping the opening strike by skating downhill from the point.
The goal signalled McCabe’s first of the season, first since he re-signed for $22.56 million, and first by any Maple Leafs defenceman in 35 days.
“Nice to get the monkey off the back and get rid of the goose egg next to the G,” said McCabe.
Berube doesn’t view Toronto’s lack of blueline scoring as a concern, yet he has been pushing them to be more active. (Morgan Rielly nearly finished one, too, when driving back door.)
“We’re not worried about scoring goals in the back end. We’re worried about winning hockey games, and that’s keeping the puck out of our net,” McCabe asserted.
“You keep the goals against down in this league, and we got enough guys in this room that can score. So, obviously, it’s nice to contribute when we do, but that’s not our priority.”
• There is more entertainment jammed into five minutes of Leafs-Bruins than 120 minutes of Leafs-Islanders.
• John Tavares extended his support for his former training camp billet, Easton Cowan, one of the juniors taking heat online for Team Canada’s early ouster from the U20 championship.
“Every player goes through adversity at different points in their career, and it’s just an opportunity for growth,” Tavares said of the Leafs prospect.
A two-time world junior gold medallist, Tavares says he hasn’t been reading the criticism but understands the pressure of the spotlight both in Toronto and on the world stage.
“It’s never easy for him, or all those kids with that opportunity to play for Canada, play on home soil, and to just not go the way you wanted it to go,” Tavares said.
“Love him as a kid, the type of skill set he has, and the player he’s going to be. He’s going to be really good moving forward.”
• Linus Ullmark isn’t the only one who has earned an extension as a byproduct of the summer’s key Bruins-Senators trade.
Bottom-six centre Mark Kastelic re-upped for three years and $4.7 million in Boston. (Perhaps some Trent Frederic insurance?) The 25-year-old was “ecstatic” talking about his new deal Saturday.
“Ever since I got here, it’s felt like home. It’s really a huge family,” he said.
Kastelic’s actual family is equally stoked. Fun fact: The big man’s grandfather, Pat Stapleton, patrolled the Bruins’ blueline from 1961 to 1963.
“He shows up every night,” coach Joe Sacco said. “He’s a culture-builder for our organization. He does everything that’s asked of him, and he sticks up for his mates when he needs to. So, it’s a great signing. I’m really happy for him. It’s certainly well deserved.”
• In their past three head-to-head matchups, Joseph Woll has outdueled fellow 26-year-old American goaltender Jeremy Swayman.
