maple leafs

Leafs pummel Caps, Knies returning to Minnesota, New Leafs Convo

Apr 15, 2022 • 8:52 pm

Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter *******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******

The Toronto Maple Leafs put the disappointing loss to Buffalo in the rear-view mirror and resumed their winning ways with a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday, maintaining their hold on second place in the Atlantic Division with two weeks to go in the regular season.

Michael Bunting, William Nylander, and Ilya Mikheyev each scored a pair, Ilya Lyubushkin added his first goal in Blue and White, and John Tavares tied a career-high with four assists and Jack Campbell made 22 saves for his 28th win of the season.

Other than a short span in the middle of the second period when the Capitals narrowed the lead to 2-1 on John Carlson’s 15th of the season, the Leafs were in complete control of the game, and had little trouble generating scoring chances and converting, but Toronto did take a bit of a physical pounding, as Tom Wilson wreaked havoc with hits on Alex Kerfoot and a collision with Campbell’s head at the side of the crease, before Kyle Clifford dropped the gloves with the big winger.

The Leafs play back-to-back games on the weekend, in Ottawa on Saturday, and at home against the NY Islanders on Sunday. At practice on Friday, Justin Holl replaced veteran Jake Muzzin on the second pairing with TJ Brodie, and defenseman Kristians Rubins was brought up on emergency recall by the club.

*******

After a week of pondering whether to turn pro, Leafs prospect Matthew Knies chose on Thursday to return to the University of Minnesota for his sophomore season and not turn pro. The 19-year-old winger scored 33 points (15 goals, 18 assists) in 33 NCAA games, but chose to remain in school for another crack at a National Championship.

*******