Matthew Good makes massive debut for Maple Leafs Sportsnet.ca

SUNRISE, Florida. As rushed and hectic because the final 48 hours of Matt Good’s life have been, Toronto’s latest Maple Leaf thinks he wants it.

This victory.

This night time.

This debut is a distraction.

Bear in mind, the Leafs’ high prospect had the chance to signal knowledgeable contract across the identical time final spring. As an alternative, he determined to return to the College of Minnesota to mature as a participant and younger man, and since the Golden Gophers had been legit.

Possibly if the talent-rich NCAA squad stored the band collectively, they may go all the way in which in 2023. And oh my gosh, they virtually made it.

Knies & Co. led 2-0 in Saturday’s championship sport, solely to see Quinnipiac reverse and rip their hearts out in sudden-death extra time.

Though the Maple Leafs had been headed to Florida, the host state of the match, the 20-year-old energy ahead felt it was vital to fly again together with his school teammates. Even when it meant leaping off one other aircraft and heading south the following night time to begin a brand new life.

Joint ache disappears extra simply than single ache.

“It was devastating to be on the flight, however it’s good to have the ability to say goodbye and want them one of the best of luck subsequent season,” Good mentioned Monday after a 2-1 extra time win over the Florida Panthers.

It is exhausting to go away it behind. It was a very good factor that I wanted. Carry that pleasure again as a result of clearly it was a devastating loss again within the Frozen 4. Saying goodbye to these guys after which exhibiting up and being the brand new man right here was an actual disgrace.

Or as game-winning scorer John Tavares places it: 72 hours for him.

The brand new man confirmed flashes to dwell as much as the hype.

First, the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Kniss fills out an NHL uniform completely. He holds his head excessive. He speaks and strikes confidently. He seems to be the half.

In 13:09 of largely defensive minutes (none in 3-on-3 OT), Good gained some robust battles on the boards in opposition to a determined Florida Panthers squad. He created a few scoring probabilities and made good choices with the puck.

He additionally made a doubtlessly expensive mistake on a foul zone out and bailed out Ilya Samsonov, and at instances regarded like a man who would possibly want some apply with the Leafs. He did not have that earlier than.

I assumed the tempo did not faze him in any respect. His legs had been shifting. He made some good performs with the puck. Couple of errors there. However errors are good as a result of you possibly can study from them and regulate your sport, which I assumed he did. I assumed he did a very good job, coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned.

Hear, it wasn’t simple for him due to what he went by way of. Not simply the devastating loss they suffered after such a protracted season, however simply the turnaround to get right here.

You’ll be able to’t simply present up and play within the NHL. There are lots of hoops to leap by way of and clear within the therapeutic course of that sometimes happens in coaching camp.

Returning to Florida from Minnesota after placing pen to paper Sunday night time, Good met briefly together with his fellow Leafs this morning and spent the day racing to get the required exams.

I simply could not quit my debut, he mentioned.

His household made the journey to observe the dream come true, and Kniss’s cellphone was blowing up with encouragement from previous coaches.

Their recommendation?

Imagine in your self. Belief your instincts. Do not be afraid. Do not shrink back. Play your sport.

In a single draw within the scrimmage zone, Keefe moved Good to left wing to fellow Arizona native Auston Matthews and high lineman Mitchell Marners, maybe a sneak preview for subsequent season.

That is nice, Good mentioned. Particularly sharing ice with him. I checked out him. He is been an enormous affect on my profession, so it has been plenty of enjoyable sitting subsequent to him, taking all of it in, taking notes.

Matthews was impressed with how Good slot in.

You simply see his dimension and energy. He staged performs. It is not simple to leap proper into an NHL sport, particularly one like tonight the place they’ve quite a bit on the road and it got here out with plenty of hype. “I assumed he regarded actually good,” Matthews mentioned. It is necessary for him to not put an excessive amount of strain on himself.

Clearly, we have been making an attempt to do one thing particular right here, and we expect he can are available and assist us. I feel it would simply get him acclimated right away and he did not look misplaced tonight.

Good was fast to confess that the NHLers are quite a bit more durable and quicker than the opponents he is used to, however he is trying to make changes and chase that recent pleasure.

To see it dwell, Keefe mentioned, he regarded like a man who was comfy despite the fact that he clearly wasn’t.

Quick foxes 5

As a result of the Maple Leafs created their very own emergency wage cap, they’d cap area on Sunday, however they used it to signal Kniss, the NHL deemed ineligible for an emergency goaltender recall.

So the ATO signed Owen Sound Assault netminder Nick Chenard, who wore Jett Alexanders #40.

The same state of affairs occurred final month with the Rangers once they had been denied an emergency waiver as a result of they added Patrick Kane by way of commerce.

There’s nonetheless hope that Joseph Wohl can be recalled for Tuesday’s sport in Tampa to stop playoff starter Samsonov from enjoying each side in a meaningless back-to-back.

Samsonov says: I do not know what is going to occur tomorrow.

Eric Gustafson tweaked one thing, in line with Keefe, and left the warmup with an upper-body harm, forcing Luke Schenn (who did not warmup) to switch him within the final minute.

Gustafsson joins the injured Sam Lafferty, Matt Murray and Calais Yrnkrok within the aspect. All are formally every day.

Kicker Alex Lyon has began the final seven video games for the Panthers, going 6-0-1 within the course of. He was stellar once more on Monday regardless of the loss. FLA Stay is now roaring his moniker after massive saves.

Panthers coach Paul Morris mentioned some robust saves regarded very simple. Guys love him due to his character and his work ethic in his spare time.

Matthews has 5 40-goal seasons (and 4 in a row), which is a membership file. He’s 25 years outdated.

Marner, who had the help after Matthews’ tip-in, wants one level within the subsequent two video games to succeed in 100 for the primary time in his profession.

Aaron Ekblad and die-hard fan and Masters contender Brooks Koepka buried the hatchet. The golfer, who’s buddies with Florida’s Ryan Lomberg, apologized to Ekblad by way of textual content, serving to clean issues over after calling the quarterback a pylon in a current sport.

He did what he did and he apologized, and having unwell will in opposition to somebody and holding negativity in your physique is rarely a very good factor, Ekblad instructed reporters Monday morning.

I truly wager him to win the match (the Masters) however it did not work out. He got here after profitable Orlando on the LIV tour and simply felt like I had an opportunity to make some cash there.