Maple Leafs announce Game 5 status for Matthew Knies

The Toronto Maple Leafs return home to the friendly confines of Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night with a 3-1 series advantage over the rival Tampa Bay Lightning following two consecutive overtime victories. The Leafs trailed in both games at Amalie Arena, only to roar back to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. 

There was also a key lineup change that Toronto made after Michael Bunting was suspended following Tampa's lopsided Game 1 loss for elbowing Tampa's Erik Cernak in the head. Forward Matthew Knies, who was playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers earlier this month, was inserted into the lineup and had a positive impact. 

Bunting is eligible to return on Thursday night for the potential closeout game against the Lightning, and there will be a player who needs to come out of the lineup should he be inserted back into action. However, that player will not be Knies, according to head coach Sheldon Keefe. 

“Matthew Knies is certainly not coming out of the lineup,” Keefe said during a Zoom call from Tampa. “He has done a terrific job for us. He is a guy who definitely earned his spot and the opportunity to continue to play for us.”

The most likely candidate to be taken from the lineup should Bunting return include Sam Lafferty or Zach Aston-Reese.

“With Bunting being available, it’s a very good option for us, he’s a good player for us,” Keefe said. “It’s not as easy or as simple a decision as it may have been earlier in the series. “We will take our time and sort through it. We have a group of guys who have played real hard. We have some time today and tomorrow to sort through that and make that decision.”

Game 5 between the Leafs and Lightning is Thursday night; the Leafs can punch their ticket to the second round for the first time since 2004 with a win.