‘I Think He Was Trying To Fool The Ref There’: Matthew Knies Has Jake McCabe Skate By Maple Leafs’ Bench After High-Tipped Goal Against Kraken

When Bobby McMann watched Matthew Knies score in a 3-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday, he could only smile.

The 22-year-old forward tipped home a rather high—but legal—Jake McCabe point shot for his 21st goal of the season. As the players began to skate over to the bench, Knies allowed McCabe to lead, which usually signals that he scored the goal.

However, McMann, who also scored against Seattle—his third straight game with one—knew what Knies was doing the entire time.

“I think he was trying to fool the ref there a little bit. Good play by him,” the 28-year-old forward smiled after Toronto’s win.

“I think it was nice that he swiped down on it because it was very close, and I think because it was a goal on the ice, it ended up being a goal all the way through.”

The Maple Leafs have had their fair share of video reviews throughout the last week. On Tuesday in Calgary, two reviews were conducted during the game, and both were called back.

But when Toronto’s video team, consisting of Jordan Bean and Sam Kim, who have been perfect in challenges this season looked at Knies’s tip, they knew it would be called a good goal.

“Our video guy wired it down and said it’s going to be a good goal,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said on Thursday. “They called a good goal on the ice, so a lot of times it’s hard to overturn that. I think it’s close. It’s very close.”

Related: ‘I Listen To ‘Em’: Maple Leafs Praise Video Team For Pulling Back Another Goal From Flames In Victory

If there’s anyone who understands what it’s like to battle Knies in front of the net, it’s Toronto’s defensemen. They battle him almost every day in practice.

One of those players, Philippe Myers, who scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf in Seattle (and his first in the NHL since Nov. 17, 2022), divulged how difficult it is with the young forward parked in front of the goaltender.

“Yeah, he’s obviously a big boy and hard to move when he’s in front of the net there,” the 28-year-old defenseman grinned. “He’s going to make a lot of money doing that.”

Knies is in the final year of his entry-level contract, so Myers is correct. And with his goal on Thursday, Knies set a new career-high with 36 points in the NHL (21 goals and 15 assists).

With how he’s playing this season, it’s safe to say that there’ll be a pretty big contract in his future.

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