Maple Leafs’ Knies Scores Overtime Goal to Avoid Elimination

The Toronto Maple Leafs have held off elimination for now, getting an overtime goal from Matthew Knies to hold off the Boston Bruins 2-1. The Maple Leafs still trail 3-2 in the series but have survived an elimination game without Auston Matthews, who missed the game with an undisclosed illness.

For the seventh time in franchise history, the Maple Leafs have forced a Game 6 after facing a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series. The two most recent instances also came against the Bruins (2018 & 2013).

As Original Six teams, when the Maple Leafs faced the Bruins in the NHL Playoffs, only four of their contests were tied entering the third period: Game 6 of the 2013 conference quarterfinals (2-1 W), Game 4 of the 1974 quarterfinals (4-3 OTL), Game 7 of the 1941 semifinals (2-1 L) and Game 5 of the 1933 semifinals (1-0 OT6).

Jake McCabe got the Maple Leafs on the board in the first period, snapping a wrist shot off a faceoff past Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Mitch Marner got the assist, allowing him to become the 12th player in franchise history with 50 career playoff points. He became the fourth-fastest player in Maple Leafs’ history to record 50 career playoff points, trailing Doug Gilmour (31 GP), Darryl Sittler (47 GP) and Mats Sundin (53 GP).

Despite only getting two shots in the first period, the Bruins did manage to get a goal from Trent Frederic to tie the score going into the first intermission.

After a scoreless second and third periods, Knies punched home a rebound off a John Tavares shot to give the Maple Leafs the win.