Knee Jerk Reaction: Max Domi, Matthew Knies lead Maple Leafs past Flames in 4-3 win
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their second game in a row thanks to a game-winning goal from Max Domi in the final two minutes, and nobody needed it more.
The Maple Leafs traded goals with the Flames throughout the game, beginning with a 1-0 deficit and eventually seeing a 3-2 lead before the Flames tied it up at the end of the third period. Determined to not let it get to overtime, Domi capitalized off a giveaway in the offensive zone and scored his second of two goals to take a 4-3 lead near the end of the frame.
Domi, who hadn’t scored since the second game of the season and has yet to register an assist on the season, was desperately in need of some positive momentum to get his game going, and his performance on Tuesday night should help him in a big way. Head coach Craig Berube noted as such prior to the game.
Max Domi has 1 goal, 0 assists, and is minus-7 through 9 games. He’s now centring the fourth line.
Craig Berube on Domi’s season so far: “Up and down. Missed a lot of camp. That always hurts a guy a little bit. Just kind of not fully healthy, in my opinion.”
Domi wasn’t the only one to have a strong night for the Maple Leafs. Matthew Knies picked up two goals of his own along with an assist on Domi’s game-winner, catapulting him to a tie for second on the team in scoring along with John Tavares.
While this game had enough defensive lapses that Berube won’t be totally thrilled with the result, the Leafs did outplay the Flames in this game and as such there will be plenty of positives to take away from the game as well. The Leafs, like any other team at the start of the NHL season, have some kinks to work out. We’re seeing similar trends with teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Florida Panthers, who have been anything but perfect to start the season, so banking as many points as possible in October is imperative even if it’s not the prettiest game every time. Especially for the Leafs, who have a front-loaded home schedule in the first month of the season.
The Leafs will be back in action on Wednesday night for the second half of a back-to-back when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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