Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies to miss game Sunday against Utah; no timeline for return

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube announced that forward Matthew Knies will miss Sunday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club.

Knies has scored eight goals and 12 points in 20 games this season with Toronto while averaging 18:23 of ice time per game.

Knies was injured in Wednesday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights following a hard hit from Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud. Whitecloud was not penalized for the hit, although he received a roughing penalty for his part in the scrum that followed the hit. Maple Leafs’ defenseman Simon Benoit would receive a double-minor for roughing for his part in the scrum, as he challenged Whitecloud after the hit.

Toronto started game 20 of their season extremely shorthanded up front as Auston Matthews, David Kampf, Max Pacioretty, Calle Jarnkrok, and Max Domi are all out due to various injuries, meanwhile, Ryan Reaves was unavailable as he served the first of his five-game suspension for his illegal check to the head of Edmonton Oilers’ defenceman Darnell Nurse Nov.16.

The NHL Department of Safety’s George Parros explained the decision behind not suspending Whitecloud.“We looked for the main point of contact, which was mainly delivered to the head,” said Parros on NHL on Prime. “We try to take a look at the approach to the player, where that contact landed, and make our evaluation as best we can.”

“Whitecloud approaches squarely through the front of the body on Matthew Knies, his position being tilted forward slightly,” said Parros. “There is head contact, no one’s denying that. We don’t like to see it, and it’s unfortunate that [Knies] had to leave the game under these circumstances. We do feel that Zach approached his hit through the center of the body and made contact to the body as well as the head there.”