Matthew Knies appears to take shot at Maple Leafs after huge Blue Jackets debut

Matthew Knies needed about 20 minutes to give Toronto a headache.

Three days after the Maple Leafs sent him to Columbus, he opened his Blue Jackets career with a power play goal and an assist, then added another goal in the second period as Columbus beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-3 on Thursday night.

Charlie Coyle fed him for a one-timer in the slot with a little over two minutes left in the first, and that goal gave Columbus a 2-1 lead.

Forty-six seconds later, Knies and Zach Werenski set up Adam Fantilli for a deflection that made it 3-1.

His three points matched the franchise record for a debut, set by Artemi Panarin back in 2017.

Knies also became the first Columbus player to score twice in his first game with the club, and the win was the Blue Jackets' first in a season opener in five years.

Afterward, Knies gave the credit to his new teammates for helping him settle in fast, called the room a blast and reminded everyone it's just one game.

Some may feel this is a shot at the Leafs, but the stat line did plenty of talking on its own.

Toronto sent Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a second round pick to Columbus on Monday for Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins.

Andrae picked up an assist on Knies' second goal, a point shot he tipped in to make it 4-2.

Leafs fans online were quick to voice regret, with plenty of them saying Toronto got the short end.

Knies played 240 games in Toronto across four seasons and put up 67 goals and 93 assists, and Columbus will gladly take more of the same.

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