'He Might Switch Tomorrow': Bobby McMann Ignites Maple Leafs' Offense In Win Against Canadiens With Goal Assisted By Matthew Knies' Stick

When the Toronto Maple Leafs needed a goal in the second period, Bobby McMann and Matthew Knies teamed up in a unique way to ignite the team's engine.

After a Montreal Canadiens turnover, McMann, along with William Nylander, barrelled down for a two-on-one. McMann elected to hold onto the puck and fire a shot, which then beat Sam Montembeault for his 13th goal of the season.

He immediately pointed to the Maple Leafs bench because of the great assist from Knies, who handed McMann his stick after the 28-year-old's broke earlier in the play.

"I saw a couple guy's sticks. One of Kniesy's, I thought that'd be the closest to (mine). Didn't really think about the white tape though. That's always a difference," McMann said post-game.

"And then, it actually felt good. I went to battle with it and then the puck came around and felt like I had to bend over a little more. He's a little shorter. But then, I was like, 'I gotta rip this with his stick and see what happens.'"

Indeed he ripped it and indeed he scored.

Entering this game, McMann hadn't scored in seven games. He admitted following Toronto's win that a few people on the bench joked with him that he should switch sticks, or at least change to white tape. Oliver Ekman-Larsson included.

"He might switch sticks tomorrow," the veteran defenseman said with a smile. "But that was pretty cool to see. It's not easy to do to just grab somebody else's stick, so, well done."

"Maybe he should switch," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube joked after the game.

Will McMann make the switch?

"A couple players thinking I should be using white tape from now on. I might need to use it in a couple of practices before I go at it (in a game)," the forward said.

William Nylander was quite impressed with McMann's goal but admits he's never scored with one of his teammate's sticks in a game.

"I'll try next game," Nylander joked post-game.

McMann's goal, and Nick Robertson's after, helped ignite a Maple Leafs offense that fired 26 shots in the second and third periods. Goals came from all areas, including on defense, from Ekman-Larsson, as well as their depth players: Steven Lorentz and David Kampf, who scored an empty-netter to put the game away.

Even Auston Matthews got on the board again. His 18th goal of the season on Saturday was his seventh tally in eight games since returning from his upper-body injury.

When Toronto's captain stepped in front of the cameras inside the Bell Centre after the game, though, he had a glaring smile when asked about Knies' assist on McMann's goal.

"That was obviously a big goal by Bobby. He scored with Kniesy's stick," Matthews said.
"Not an easy thing to do to pick up somebody's stick and put that one in."