Home Sport live NHL Matthew Knies nets two goals and contributes an assist in Maple Leafs’ 5-3 victory over Lightning.

Matthew Knies nets two goals and contributes an assist in Maple Leafs’ 5-3 victory over Lightning.

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Matthew Knies nets two goals and contributes an assist in Maple Leafs’ 5-3 victory over Lightning.

Toronto witnessed a thrilling encounter on Monday night, as the Maple Leafs triumphed over the Tampa Bay Lightning with a score of 5-3. Matthew Knies was a standout performer for the Leafs, contributing two goals and an assist in the match. Auston Matthews and William Nylander also added to the scoreline for Toronto, while Joseph Woll made 27 saves to help secure the victory. Additionally, Mitch Marner sealed the game with an empty-net goal and provided two assists.

For the Lightning, Nick Paul shone with two goals, and Darren Raddysh registered a goal and an assist. Goalie Jonas Johansson faced 23 shots during the game, and defenseman Victor Hedman contributed two assists to his team’s efforts. This victory marked the Maple Leafs’ third consecutive regulation win over the Lightning this season, positioning them at the top of the Atlantic Division with 62 points as they extended their winning streak to three games.

In terms of player highlights, Woll achieved a personal milestone, making his 25th appearance and tying his career-high for the ongoing season. This match also marked his 61st regular-season game in the NHL. On the other hand, Johansson filled in for the injured Andrei Vasilevskiy, the No. 1 goaltender, who struggled against Toronto earlier in the season.

A pivotal moment came right before the second intermission when Marner located Knies behind the Lightning’s defense, allowing Knies to net a goal with just 22.3 seconds remaining in the second period, thereby extending the Leafs’ lead to two goals.

In noteworthy statistics, Matthews, who topped the NHL scoring charts with 69 goals last season, has made a comeback with eight goals and six assists over the last nine games. This comes after he missed six games earlier in the season due to an undisclosed upper-body injury, having previously been sidelined for nine games with a similar problem earlier on.

Looking ahead, the Lightning are set to continue their four-game road trip as they face off against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday in what promises to be another exciting matchup.