Toronto Maple Leafs’ Matthew Knies exits Game 2 with injury

The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that forward Matthew Knies will not return to Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers due to an injury.

The Leafs didn’t say what the injury was, but Sam Bennett hauled down the rookie forward in the opening period behind the Toronto net. Bennett originally hit Knies along the boards before dragging him down shortly after.

Knies played just 5:33 on the third line before getting removed from play. The Leafs took a 2-0 lead in the first period but the Panthers managed to take a 3-2 advantage early in the middle stanza.

The game was the seventh of the playoffs for Knies after signing his entry-level contract midway through April. Knies had one assist in three regular season games but became an instant contributor during Toronto’s playoff run. He scored his first career goal in Game 1 on Tuesday and has four points alongside Noel Acciari and Ryan O’Reilly.

One of Toronto’s top prospects, Knies turned pro after putting up 42 points in 40 games with the NCAA’s University of Minnesota. He finished his two-year NCAA run with 75 points in 73 games, finishing as a Hobey Baker Award finalist earlier this season. He previously represented the United States at the 2022 Olympics and World Junior Championship.

The Toronto Maple Leafs advanced to the second round for the first time in 19 years after beating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. The Leafs lost 4-2 in Game 1 to Florida and find themselves on the outside looking in early in the Atlantic Division final.

If Knies is unable to play in Game 3, Zach Aston Reese could return to the lineup after getting replaced by Sam Lafferty on Thursday. The Leafs also have Wayne Simmonds and defensemen Erik Gustafsson, Conor Timmins and Justin Holl if needed.