NHL Referees Advise Leafs Winger Matthew Knies to Tone One Aspect of His Game Down

The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into Game 3 on the road after winning the first two games of the series. One standout in these playoffs has been Matthew Knies, who has fully embraced the gritty, physical style of head coach Craig Berube.

Knies has recorded four goals and one assist through eight playoff games, but his impact goes well beyond the scoresheet. He's played big and strong-attacking the net, throwing hits, and battling hard in the corners.

However, Knies was recently told by officials to rein in one particular tactic -- his aggressive net-front presence while screening Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

As per Mark Masters of TSN, Knies explained:

Coach Berube also praised Knies' performance in front of the net:

While many counted the Leafs out before the series began, they now hold a 2-0 lead and are favoured to win the series by 67% probability-an ironic nod to 1967, the last time Toronto won the Stanley Cup.

The Leafs will once again be without starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who remains sidelined with an injury, though reports suggest he's progressing well in his recovery.

Knies and the Leafs will need to maintain their grit and consistency in Game 3 if they hope to take a stranglehold on the series and go up 3-0 against the Panthers. Still, given what we've seen from Florida in this series, it's silly that the referees have taken issue with Knies' net-front presence, of all things.