‘No one quit’ as determined Maple Leafs force Game 6 in Toronto

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The Maple Leafs had something to prove on Tuesday night. 

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And with their season on the line, they proved they’re worthy of another elimination game in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. 

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Matthew Knies was the overtime hero in Game 5 at TD Garden in Boston, scoring at 2:26 to give the Leafs a 2-1 win.

Game 6 in the best-of-seven series, led 3-2 by Boston, goes on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena.

Knies went to the net and popped a loose puck past Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The play transpired thanks to captain John Tavares, who managed to get past Bruins defenceman Matt Grzelcyk and put the puck toward the net.

“The guys were moving their feet and playing hard,” Knies told Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas after the game. “No one quit, no one gave up. Johnny made an unbelievable play driving the net and fortunately I could bury that and send us back home.”

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Playing without Auston Matthews, there was no questioning the Leafs’ effort. 

The roster in its entirety performed with determination and character.

From start to finish, the Leafs often carried the play, led by the line of Max Domi between Tyler Bertuzzi and Mitch Marner.

While there will be some who, in hindsight, think Joseph Woll should have been starting in the series earlier, there’s no doubt that he will be in net for another elimination game. 

Coach Sheldon Keefe’s decision to start Woll instead of Ilya Samsonov was wise as Woll was excellent. 

A pad save on Charlie Coyle by Woll early in overtime was his best of the game.

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Each netminder made a 10-bell save in the latter stages of third period. With 7 1/2 minutes to go, Woll stretched across the crease to stop Trent Frederic with his right pad. A few minutes later, Swayman made the proper read on a Leafs 2-on-1, sliding across the crease to make a save on Bertuzzi on a Domi feed.

The indication in the morning was that Matthews would not play as he didn’t spend much time on the ice before the Leafs had an optional skate. 

“He’s working through things to try to make himself available,” Keefe told media in Boston. “It’s always the doctors’ call.

“This time of year, the players are going to do all that they can to get out there and the medical team is going to do all they can to make sure the players are available, while also making sure that they are taken care of.”

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Speculation ramped up that Matthews also was dealing with an injury while getting through his illness. Keefe was not in a confirming mood.

“I’ve already answered too many questions on the situation,” Keefe said. “At the time of the year, we’re not going to answer much else.”

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Other than two blips in the first period, the Leafs couldn’t have expected a better start out of themselves. They outshot the Bruins 12-2 and had 30 shot attempts while holding the Bruins to seven. 

Domi was perfect in the faceoff circle in the opening 20 minutes, going 10-0, and one of those wins resulted in the first goal of the game at 5:33. 

Domi beat Frederic on an offensive-zone draw and Marner passed back to Jake McCabe at the point. The defenceman’s high shot eluded Swayman on the blocker side and served as McCabe’s first career NHL playoff goal in his 16th post-season game.

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Frederic tied the game at 13:54 on the Bruins’ second shot. In the thick of a Boston forecheck, Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit tried to move the puck up the middle, but his pass caromed off the skate of Patrick Maroon to Frederic. A surprised Woll didn’t have time to react before Frederic ripped a shot past him.

That bounce and a listless late power play, which produced one shot on goal, were the lone negatives for the Leafs in the first. 

The Leafs’ best chance to take a lead in the second period came early. 

After serving a minor, William Nylander skated in alone after he got out of the box and was spotted by Joel Edmundson. Nylander beat Swayman, but not the crossbar, and the game remained tied not quite three minutes in. 

And Swayman had to be sharp to deny Morgan Rielly during a Leafs power play. 

At the other end, Woll made a quick pad save on Morgan Geekie and the Toronto netminder was composed overall.

tkoshan@postmedia.com

X: @koshtorontosun

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