Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies to return versus Lightning following two-game absence

The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a bolstered lineup on Saturday versus the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After already learning that captain Auston Matthews will return Saturday following a nine-game absence, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube also confirmed Saturday that fellow forward Matthew Knies will re-enter the lineup after missing the past two games with an upper-body ailment.

Knies sustained the injury earlier this month following a hit by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud. The Maple Leafs went 1-1-0 in Knies’ absence, picking up a win versus the Utah Hockey Club before falling short to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

On the season, Knies has impressed, where through 20 appearances he sits fifth in team scoring with 12 points counting eight goals and four assists. The 22-year-old native of Phoenix, Ariz., is skating in his second full season with the Maple Leafs. He wrapped up the 2023-24 campaign with 15 goals and 20 assists for 35 points in 80 games.

A second-round selection from the 2021 NHL Draft, Knies’ career has totaled 103 contests in which he has collected 23 goals and 25 assists for 48 points. Prior to joining the Maple Leafs, Knies spent two seasons with the NCAA’s Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Saturday’s contest marks the second of four games between the Maple Leafs and Lightning this season. The Maple Leafs came away with a 5-2 victory in their late October meetup in which right winger William Nylander led the way with a three-point effort.

On the season, the Maple Leafs sit second place in the Atlantic Division with a 13-7-2 showing, one point behind the Panthers and two points ahead of the Lightning. Meanwhile, Saturday’s contest is the second game in as many nights for the Lightning as Friday action saw the club defeat the Nashville Predators 3-2 in overtime.