{"id":15285,"date":"2025-11-18T09:17:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T09:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/matthew-knies-holds-the-key-to-solving-a-critical-maple-leafs-problem\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T09:17:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T09:17:08","slug":"matthew-knies-holds-the-key-to-solving-a-critical-maple-leafs-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news2.watchtowatch.top\/?p=15285","title":{"rendered":"Matthew Knies holds the key to solving a critical Maple Leafs problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Matthew<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Toronto Maple Leafs\u00a0are searching for their killer instinct.\u00a0Matthew Knies\u00a0thinks\u00a0the same and explained\u00a0it recently.<\/p>\n

After\u00a0Saturday’s 3-2 loss\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0Chicago Blackhawks, coach Craig Berube\u00a0insisted on\u00a0the lack of execution, while Knies, 23, pointed out the\u00a0lack of closing\u00a0in third\u00a0periods to not let\u00a0the opponent\u00a0breathe.<\/p>\n

“I think we just\u00a0gotta\u00a0find a way to\u00a0just\u00a0step on\u00a0\u2019em\u00a0and not let\u00a0\u2019em\u00a0breathe when it comes to the third period,”\u00a0he said\u00a0after practice on\u00a0Monday<\/em><\/p>\n

“I think we let \u2019em come back in the game, and obviously that\u2019s happened to us a few times here. So we\u2019re trying to figure out how to finish out a game right now. I think we have the ability to do that, we just have to execute a few things, and I think we\u2019ll be good.”<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/em><\/p>\n

Knies has a\u00a0good\u00a0point and\u00a0knows what he\u00a0is\u00a0talking about, since he has a\u00a0key role in the endings of games.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old forward\u00a0has\u00a0good wall play and net-front work, in addition to valuable attributes for protecting advantages, winning duels, and securing defensive zone\u00a0exits under pressure.\u00a0His recent time\u00a0on ice\u00a0is around 20-23 minutes, which speaks to the coaching staff’s confidence in\u00a0heavy\u00a0situations.<\/p>\n

That said, Knies can be even more efficient, especially if he assumes a more specific role in those moments of the game. The winger could work on reducing late east-west passes, opting for chip-out and shot support for clean exits under pressure.<\/p>\n

He should also adjust his support route to\u00a0give\u00a0a passing\u00a0line\u00a0to the\u00a0D\u00a0for the first pass and practice reverse timing behind the net to avoid weak\u00a0rimes\u00a0that remain in the zone.\u00a0Knies could present his stick at an angle to force a clearance to the strong side and protect the slot seam when the opponent’s weak winger cuts inside.<\/p>\n

Assuming these tactical adjustments, the forward could become the team’s ‘closer’. Berube must seek less chaos and more repeatable habits. Knies could be the key to developing that set of closing protocols that he himself recognized they need.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Minnesota Wild\u00a0(8-7-4) is back on home ice tonight to host the\u00a0Vegas Golden Knights\u00a0(8-4-5).\u00a0\u00a0The Wild will be without forward Vladimir Tarasenko for the second straight game.<\/p>\n

Tarasenko, 33, has two goals and ten points in 18 games this year for the Wild.\u00a0He missed Saturday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks\u00a0with a lower-body injury and will not play again on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Wild head coach John Hynes said after the game that Tarasenko’s status will be day-to-day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0Toronto Maple Leafs\u00a0are searching for their killer instinct.\u00a0Matthew Knies\u00a0thinks\u00a0the same and explained\u00a0it recently. After\u00a0Saturday’s 3-2 loss\u00a0against\u00a0the\u00a0Chicago Blackhawks, coach Craig Berube\u00a0insisted on\u00a0the lack of execution, while Knies, 23, pointed out the\u00a0lack of closing\u00a0in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15284,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hot-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t