Only six rookies in Toronto Maple Leafs history have scored an overtime goal in the playoffs, and former Gophers standout Matthew Knies is one of them.
Tied 1-1 in overtime, Knies scooped up a rebound in front of the Boston Bruins net and fired a shot past Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman for the game-winner in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round series Tuesday night in Boston.
Matthew Knies
6th rookie in Maple Leafs history to score a postseason OT goal pic.twitter.com/rjswC5tUXq
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) May 1, 2024
The Bruins lead the series 3-2. Knies’ goal helped the Maple Leafs keep their season alive for at least one more game, and gave them some momentum with the series set to shift back to Toronto for Game 6.
Knies, 21, played for the Gophers for two seasons from 2021-23. He played in 73 games for the U, recording 75 points (36 goals, 39 assists). He signed an entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs shortly after the Gophers suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Quinnipiac in overtime in the national championship game in 2023.
