The Maple Leafs got a scare Wednesday night when promising young forward Matthew Knies went down after a collision with Columbus Blue Jackets’ Kirill Marchenko in the second period.
Knies had trouble getting back on his feet and didn’t return to the game. The team initially called it an "upper-body injury."
Head coach Craig Berube couldn’t provide much clarity after the game, saying he had "no immediate update" on Knies’ condition.
But there’s good news for Leafs fans – early signs suggest this won’t be a long-term issue for the 22-year-old forward, who’s been having a breakout season with 18 goals and 31 points in 47 games.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Toronto, who’s already dealing with a packed injury list. They recently lost John Tavares from their top six, and team captain Auston Matthews has already missed time twice this season.
The Leafs’ forward group has been hit particularly hard. Max Pacioretty, Calle Jarnkrok, and Connor Dewar are all currently sidelined with injuries.
It’s been that kind of year for Toronto on the injury front.
But there’s a silver lining – Knies’ injury appears to be just a minor setback. He’s expected to be back in the lineup soon, which is exactly what the Leafs need as they push toward the playoffs.