Maple Leafs' Knies exits after high hit from Golden Knights' Whitecloud
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies did not return to Wednesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights after taking a big hit.
With 12:01 remaining in the second period, Knies was skating in the neutral zone before taking a big hit from Golden Knights defenceman Zach Whitecloud in front of the Leafs' bench. Whitecloud made contact with Knies' chin, knocking him to the ice.
The Maple Leafs jumped in to Knies' defence with defenceman Simon Benoit taking Whitecloud to the ice. Benoit received four minutes in penalties for roughing while Whitecloud got two minutes for the same infraction. Officials reviewed the hit but did not penalize him.
“My view of the hit … it’s a tough call,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said. “I’m not going to sit here and comment on the league, They thought it was a clean hit, so there’s nothing you can comment on, really nothing to say.”
Knies immediately went to the Leafs bench after the hit and did not return.
“He’s upper body right now and I think tomorrow will tell us more,” Berube added of a potential Knies injury.
The Maple Leafs went on to win the game 3-0 for their third consecutive victory.
The 22-year-old forward has eight goals and 12 points in 19 games this season, his second with the Maple Leafs.