LEAF TAKEAWAYS: Anger and adrenalin help generate two points

Maple Leafs Nikita Grebenkin tangles on the boards with Vegas Golden Knights William Karlsson during first period NHL hockey action in Toronto, on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

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There is no historical rivalry between the Leafs and Knights that would have set up such a nasty game in mid-November. 

But it evolved into an intense affair: Toronto took away a 3-0 win, putting it in first place in the Atlantic. Our takeaways: 

UNLUCKY SEVEN 

Matthew Knies became the seventh Leaf forward to get knocked from the lineup, with six injuries and Ryan Reaves took himself out on suspension. 

Coach Craig Berube was irate at the bench when several replays showed Zach Whitecloud leaving his feet to rock the Leaf winger with his shoulder, more when Simon Benoit wound up with an extra minor for jumping Whitecloud, but the win tempered him after. 

“My view of the hit … it’s a tough call. I’m not going to sit here and comment on the league, They thought it a clean hit (after a long conference with a replay monitor) so there’s nothing you can comment on, really nothing to say.” 

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