Maple Leafs Coach Craig Berube Criticizes Matthew Knies' Recent On-Ice Antics

The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off of a thrilling overtime victory against division rivals, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Matthew Knies stole the spotlight, capping off the night with a hat trick goal in OT to win the game, proving that he can back up his words with his actions. But, it wasn't just the goal that had everyone talking -- it was the flashy play that came just moments before.

Knies came down on a two-on-one with Morgan Rielly and attempted a highlight-reel pass between his legs, nearly resulting in a goal.

When asked about the move, head coach Craig Berube gave a sarcastic response, as shared by Lance Hornby on X:

Knies' confidence has been a talking point in the locker room as well. As shared by Mark Masters on X, both teammates and coaches are noticing his rising self-confidence:

Knies' strong play hasn't gone unnoticed this season. He's posted career highs with 29 goals and 55 points in 74 games, continuing to impress with both his scoring touch and physical presence.

There's also growing speculation about what his next contract might look like. With his rookie deal expiring at the end of the season, figures in the range of $8.5 million per year have been floated by analysts like former NHLer Paul Bissonnette.

Knies has clearly taken a major step forward this year, evolving into a player capable of breaking games open with his skill, confidence, and hard-nosed style.

With the win, the Maple Leafs extended their lead in the Atlantic Division. And with only a few games remaining in the regular season, every point could be crucial in determining their Stanley Cup playoff matchup, which appears likely to be the Ottawa Senators at the moment.