Overview
- Toronto announced shortly before puck drop that Knies would miss the game against the Blues with a lower-body injury and be evaluated day-to-day.
- There was no prior indication of an issue, as Knies played the full previous game and participated in practices.
- Knies has been one of Toronto’s top producers this season with five goals and 22 points in 19 games.
- His absence adds to injuries sidelining Auston Matthews, Anthony Stolarz, Chris Tanev, Brandon Carlo, Nicolas Roy, and Scott Laughton, as management stresses not using injuries as an excuse.
- Sammy Blais is the likely fill-in up front, with Knies having been projected for second-line duty and top power-play and penalty-kill roles, while Auston Matthews resumed skating and Joseph Woll was projected to start.