Leafs announce key lineup change prior to Game 2

The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered more than one loss on the ice on Tuesday night in their opening game of their Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, as forward Michael Bunting was assessed a match penalty and subsequently suspended for the next three for catching Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak up high with what appeared to be his elbow.

With Bunting sitting for the next three, a lineup spot opened up for the Leafs, and they'll be filling it with forward Matthew Knies, who recently made his NHL debut with the team after completing his season with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. 

He'll be skating on a line tonight with Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari, and according to head coach Sheldon Keefe, there really isn't that much pressure on the young forward. 

"I don’t think there’s any pressure on him," Keefe said. "He’s not expected to come out here and save the world."

Meanwhile, his new lineman in O'Reilly had nothing but good things to say about him.

"He’s a phenomenal player and he’s got to lean into that," the 2019 Conn Smythe Trophy winner said. 

Tonight's projected lineup: 

Järnkrok-Matthews-Marner

Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander

Knies-O’Reilly-Acciari

Aston-Reese-Kämpf-Lafferty

McCabe-Brodie

Giordano-Holl

Rielly-Schenn