Matthew Knies Comments on His First Playoff Game and Receives Praise from Keefe and Friedman
With Michael Bunting's three-game suspension, Sheldon Keefe had limited options to fill the void.
His clear replacement was Matthew Knies, and everyone was eager to see what the rookie could bring to the playoffs.
Paired with Noel Acciari and Ryan O'Reilly, Knies was in a position to have an impact on the team, and he seized the opportunity.
Knies Praised by Keefe and Friedman
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman praised the young forward during the second intermission :
After the game, Knies and Keefe commented on his first playoff appearance.
The rookie simply said : "It was unreal."
Then, he talked about his teammates and how he felt on the ice:
If he was nervous, it didn't show on the ice! He used his incredible hockey IQ and grit to generate offensive chances, recording two shots, five hits, and an 84.95 xGF%.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe also praised Knies and his line:
Matt, in particular, took a penalty in the first period, but I thought he skated well. He was hard on the puck. He made a couple of great offensive plays. It was an excellent performance from him.
O'Reilly and Acciari were real pros tonight, taking care of Knies and managing the game when they were out there."
With two games remaining in Bunting's suspension, Knies should see more playoff action in the coming days.
As reported on Maple Leafs Daily -
Sheldon Keefe and Matthew Knies comment on his impressive performance in his first career playoff game
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 21 | 916 ANSWERS Matthew Knies Comments on His First Playoff Game and Receives Praise from Keefe and Friedman Do you think Knies will score his first playoff goal in game 3? | ||
| Yes | 649 | 70.9 % |
| No | 267 | 29.1 % |
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