The Toronto Maple Leafs lost both Game 2 and an outstanding novice as the Florida Panthers rallied Thursday night to win 3-2 and take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies left the videogame throughout the veryfirst duration after he was inspected by Panthers forward Sam Bennett. Knies was pushed into the boards by Bennett, who then knocked him to the ice. Knies appeared stunned after the play.
“I didn’t love it, certainly,” Maple Leafs captain John Tavares stated of the struck. “And it results in an injury.”
Knies, who signedupwith the Maple Leafs late in the season after assisting the University of Minnesota reach the NCAA champion videogame, did not return to the videogame.
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Coach Sheldon Keefe stated Friday that Knies suffered a concussion and would missouton at least the 2 upcoming videogames in Florida.
“Given signs and such, I’d state notlikely to return in the series,” Keefe informed pressreporters. “We’ll offer him time to recuperate and see how that goes, however he’s ruled out for the next 2 videogames.”
Knies got into the lineup in the postseason after a first-round suspension to Michael Bunting and has a objective and 3 helps. He likewise conserved a objective in Game 4 versus the Tampa Bay Lightning that permitted Toronto to conquered a 4-1 deficit.
There was no charge called on the play, though Bennett (team-high 10 strikes) was lateron punished for cross-checking Bunting in the neck.
Keefe stated after the videogame that the cross-check was “eerily comparable” to one by Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews in the 2022 Heritage Classic. “We understand how that one worked out (two-game suspension),” he stated. “We will see. The league will appearance at all of these kind of things.”
Bennett’s colleague, Matthew Tkachuk, stated of the struck on Knies: “I do not believe he will hear from Player Safety on that.”
The decision from NHL Player Safety on Friday: a $5,000 fine to Bennett for the cross-check.
Toronto, which has reached the 2nd round for the veryfirst ti