Knies found the back of the net for Toronto with 0.1 seconds left in the second period of Sunday’s 6-5 overtime win in Pittsburgh.
Mar 2, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Matthew Knies (23) tall with referee Pierre Lambert (25) against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Matthew Knies was at center ice and had 2.5 seconds left on the clock when his Toronto Maple Leafs teammates yelled for him to shoot the puck.
Instead of firing it from the middle of the rink, the 22-year-old held onto it for a bit longer before beating Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Joel Blomqvist with 0.1 seconds — and maybe even less than that — on the clock.
“I’m glad I didn’t shoot it at the red line,” Knies smiled, after the Maple Leafs’ 6-5 overtime win over Pittsburgh. “It was a lucky play for sure.”
With 5.7 seconds left in the second period, the Maple Leafs lost a draw in their own end. However, Knies made the smart play and broke up a pass between the Penguins’ defense at the blue line.
A play that paid dividends.
“You would never think that five seconds to go in the period off a faceoff in our own zone we’re going to get a goal,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said following the game.
“But he did a great job. He jumped, used his speed, and a buzzer beater.”
With 0.09 seconds left in the second period, Matthew Knies puts the Maple Leafs up 5-4 in Pittsburgh.
What a game this has been.
— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) March 2, 2025
Knies barrelled down the ice, not knowing how much time was left in the period: “I just kind of went for it,” Knies said. “Tried to shoot it off as quick as I could. Fortunately, I think it was 0.1 or 0.2, so it was really close.”
The goal was his 23rd of the season, tied for the second-most in team scoring along with John Tavares. Knies is five points ahead of last year’s total in 24 fewer games.
William Nylander was one of the players on the bench when Knies made his way down the ice: “It was crazy,” he said, after scoring the overtime winner. “What was it? One millisecond? That’s crazy.”
Even in college, Knies never scored a goal that close to the final horn. It’s safe to say that’s one of the more unique goals he’ll have in a long NHL career.
Sunday’s buzzer-beater, though, was likely one of the most unique goals of his career.
“I think that’s definitely the closest I’ve ever been to the buzzer,” Knies said. “I don’t think it gets closer.”
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