Mitch Marner on why Matthew Knies is an important playoff presence: ‘He’s got a big body’

Not only does Knies have the physicality and attitude for playoff hockey, he’s developed a knack for scoring clutch goals. His offensive talents were on display all season, scoring 29 goals and finishing with 58 points in 78 games, and he’s got five goals and seven points in nine playoff games so far.

His linemate, Mitch Marner, says that the fact that it’s nearly impossible to move his 6-foot-3, 227-pound frame in front of the net is a huge advantage for the Leafs in the playoffs.

“He’s great,” Marner said of his teammate. “Obviously he’s got a big body, makes some good plays, gets himself around the net and it’s hard to move him, so, he’s had a couple of great tip plays, plays around the net that make him very good.”

Knies has seemed to have two gears for his goals in this postseason. Greasy, net front tip-ins or bounces, or stunning breakaway goals. Marner made sure to point out his teammate’s skating ability when giving him props for how he’s played so far.

“Like I said, he’s got a big body,” Marner continued. “He throws it around up there as well, with his skating and his work ethic, it’s something you like to have on your team and on your line.”

It’s no secret that Knies has already made a young career out of torching the Tampa Bay Lightning, with ten goals and 16 points in nine games against them, and having been knocked out of the playoffs with a concussion against the Panthers two years ago, he’s out for vengeance once again.

If the Leafs defeat the Panthers and advance to the Conference Final for the first time since 2002, you can expect Knies to be a big part of it. But, for now, there are four more potential games to make it happen, starting with Game 4 in Florida on Sunday night.