Toronto — Coach Craig Berube announced on the morning of Game 7 that Matthew Knies would be available, offering a simple “He`s good to go.”
This declaration brought a collective sigh of relief from the Toronto fanbase.
Despite carrying an injury, Matthew Knies is slated to suit up for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Sunday`s do-or-die contest, a situation often seen in playoff hockey.
Berube explained the demanding nature of postseason play: “You`re not injured because you`re playing. You`re banged up. You`re hurt. And there`s a lot of that. There`s a lot of teams and a lot of players [hurt].” He subtly highlighted that seeking rest isn`t typical at this critical juncture.
“This time of year, you play through it, right? It`s too important not to,” he emphasized regarding the necessity of competing despite physical discomfort.
Knies had to miss some shifts during Game 6 after receiving a hard reverse hit from Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola in the first period, and he finished the game visibly in pain.
