On Saturday night, Maple Leafs rookie Matthew Knies found himself on a new line, away from his usual superstar linemmates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Instead, Knies found himself on a new-look 3rd line with David Kämpf and Bobby McMann, a line that helped secure the Leafs' victory last night, contributing an important goal in a tight contest.
If Knies is able to continue contributing without Matthews and Marner, it will simply give Keefe more options down the stretch and in the playoffs. Also, with Knies playing a little lower down in the lineup, it could also create some mismatches for the opposition that the Leafs can exploit.
Seeing this added grit and feistiness from Knies is a welcomed sight as the playoffs approach. As a rookie, your first full season can be daunting and pressure-filled. To see Knies finally coming out of his shell and mixing it up a little post-whistle is just a sign of what is hopefully to come in the playoffs.
