TORONTO – Matthew Knies recorded his first career NHL hat trick and Mitch Marner had a goal and four assists Saturday, lifting Toronto to a 6-4 win over the Boston Bruins during Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews’ return from injury. The line of Knies, Matthews, and Marner combined for 13 points on the night, with Matthews contributing two assists and one goal.
Knies also assisted on late empty-net goals by Marner and Matthews. Boston rallied from being down 2-0 and 3-2, with David Pastrnak tying the game at 3-3 just 34 seconds after Knies’ second goal put Toronto ahead at 4:17 of the third period. The resilient Knies restored the Leafs’ lead with his 14th goal of the season at 5:28, beating Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman after receiving a feed from Matthews behind the goal.
After Marner’s goal, Pastrnak reduced the deficit by scoring his second goal of the game to make it 5-4 with less than two minutes remaining. Matthews returned after missing six games due to an undisclosed upper-body injury sustained on December 20. He has missed 15 games total this season, causing Toronto to go 10-5-0 without their star center.
Jake McCabe also tallied for Toronto (25-13-2) during what was described as a wide-open and entertaining game, whereas Morgan Geekie and Trent Frederic scored for Boston (20-17-4). McCabe’s goal came on Matthews’ second shift of the contest, marking the first goal by a Leafs defenseman since Chris Tanev lit the lamp on November 30.
Fans witnessed Knies shine throughout the game, especially after he redirected Matthews’ shot for the opening goal. The game began with both teams exchanging opportunities but it was Knies who fueled the excitement, showing plenty of energy once Matthews returned.
“Have a night, Matthew Knies,” said Coach Craig Berube praising his player’s performance. “He was flying all night.” Knies’ captivating plays included his first goal, which came early through some nifty footwork.
For Toronto, this win marked their third consecutive victory, improving their recent record to 4-1-0. Leafs goalie Joseph Woll, who stood strong with 26 saves, has now won four straight starts.
The evening was characterized by early energy and offensive firepower as McCabe opened the scoreboard at 3:29 of the first period with his rare goal. It was just the eighth goal scored by Leafs defencemen this season, which has tied them for the fewest defensive goals across the NHL with Ottawa.
After the first period ended 1-0, Knies capitalized on continued pressure to score again at 3:37 of the second, putting the Leafs up 2-0. Just 12 seconds later, Morgan Geekie responded for Boston, swiftly cutting the lead. The game became tightly contested as Trent Frederic scored at 18:44 of the second to tie things up at 2-2.
When Knies spun around and put the Leafs back on top at 3-2 early in the third period, it became evident this game wasn’t going to be easily decided. But Pastrnak quickly tied it up again before Knies completed his hat trick shortly after.
Highlighting the importance of scoring first, the Leafs improved their record to 17-2-1 when they do so this season. This goal-scoring prowess continued as they looked to maintain their edge against their Atlantic Division rivals.
Saturday's matchup showcased the intense rivalry between the Bruins and the Leafs, emphasized by their close game history. Bruins captain Brad Marchand had previously labeled the Leafs as Boston’s biggest rivals, and both teams certainly played with this rivalry in mind.
The surprising combination of performances came as Toronto's roster adapted to Matthews’ return. Coach Berube noted the line dynamics with Matthews, Knies, and Marner creating magic on the ice, as their synergy produced multiple scoring opportunities for Toronto. Matthews dove to help secure the empty-net goal to close the game.
Next, the Bruins move on to host the New York Islanders on Sunday, hopeful to break their losing streak. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs will look to extend their winning streak when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday and again meet them Tuesday, creating more excitement as the season progresses.