HOWE ABOUT THAT: Matthew Knies flies as Leafs blast Penguins ...

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Published Dec 16, 2023  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  4 minute read

Maple Leafs centre Max Domi (centre) is congratulated by teammates Matthew Knies (right) and William Lafesson (left) after scoring during second period NHL action against the Penguins in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. Photo by Frank Gunn /THE CANADIAN PRESS

When Kyle Dubas slyly drafted Matthew Knies three years ago in the second round, it likely wasn’t with any Gordie Howe hat tricks in mind.

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The former general manager of the Maple Leafs would’ve preferred the U.S. collegian find his inner mean streak against some team other than his new employers, the Pittsburgh Penguins — and in Dubas’ first game back in Toronto since being fired in May.

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Coming off missing two games with the flu and starting on a revamped line with Mitch Marner and Max Domi after Auston Matthews was the latest Leaf sidelined by the bug, Knies helped the trio to a five-point game as Toronto dominated 7-0 on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.

It was a season-high margin of victory as Toronto climbed to within five points of division-leading Boston with a game in hand.

The Howe hatty — an old-school term for a goal, assist and a scrap in the same game — was last registered by a Leafs rookie more than 11 years ago, when Matt Frattin did it against against the Buffalo Sabres, and not by a Toronto skater of any vintage since Daniel Winnick in 2015.

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Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe’s “favourite overall part of the game” was Knies’ adding the fight portion his Gordie Howe hat trick in defence of Domi, who lost a tooth or two when checked/high-sticked into the boards by John Ludvig.

“Just to see that, his first ever fight has nothing to do with him, he didn’t like what was going on with Max,” Keefe said. “He steps in and stands his ground. Part of the game.

“He had a terrific start, attacking with speed, a world-class goal and he gets involved physically.”

“I kind of blacked out,” laughed Knies who could not fight under NCAA rules while wearing a full cage. “I just wanted to get as much (punches) off as I could. It was a cool feeling, an adrenalin rush.”

Domi, moved to Matthews’ centre spot, made a nice move to send Knies away on the game-opening goal, who turned Ryan Graves around before sticking it under the bar.

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Then came two nice passes via Domi and Nick Robertson to Marner after a Pittsburgh neutral zone turnover.

Bobby McMann buried a Bertuzzi rebound for the undrafted forward’s long-awaited first NHL goal after 17 games over two seasons. It came a couple of days after his father departed following the dads’ road trip, but Bobby said his father can expect the souvenir puck shipped to him in Alberta.

“It’s been a long time dreaming about that,” McMann said. “Shooting pucks all summer. A bit of relief, emotion, excitement.”

Martin Jones picked up the shutout and his third win in as many appearances in Toronto’s net, making 38 saves for his seventh career victory against Pittsburgh, versus no losses.

On alert when the Leafs were losing pucks in their end, which cursed Ilya Samsonov on Thursday against Columbus, Jones also helped start another picture play in the second, hitting Marner with a stretch pass, which was deftly relayed to Knies and then to Domi for his second goal of the year.

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John Tavares and Noah Gregor added power-play goals before William Nylander wrapped it up in the third.

Knies wasn’t the only Leaf in a feisty mood, with defencemen Conor Timmins and Simon Benoit getting into minor scraps that followed scrums. ‘Organic toughness’ was something Dubas hoped would grow in Toronto after he was promoted to GM in 2018. He wound up having to import some every year, but lack of success in post-season, outside of finally winning a first round series last year, marked his tenure in Toronto before he was let go in an apparent power struggle.

Several fans started a derogatory Dubas chant, but it had to be a harder game for the Penguins’ fathers to endure, as this was their annual trip with their sons.

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Pittsburgh, trying to find its way after missing the playoffs last year, is now three games under .500 and second last in the Metropolitan Division.

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Domi noted that Toronto had seven different scorers on a night Matthews was away.

“We’re working towards something when playoffs come around that anyone can step up on any given night,” he said. “We need four lines to achieve our goal so this was a huge opportunity for a lot of guys tonight, a huge win.”

Toronto killed all three penalties on Saturday, another highlight for them. They face the New York Rangers at home Tuesday, a week after a 7-3 win there.

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