Leafs rookie makes a surprising admission following his standout performance

A big reason for the win last night was the play of rookie winger Matthew Knies, who made his triumphant return to the lineup after missing a few games with the flu himself. Knies was quite obviously feeling much better, as he put on a clinic, recording a Gordie Howe hat trick - the first Leaf to do so since Daniel Winnik in February of 2015.

For those who are unaware of what a Gordie Howe hat trick is, first off, how dare you!? Secondly, a Gordie Howe hat trick is a term for when a player records a goal, an assist and a fight in the same game - something that the late, great Gordie Howe was known for. Here's a look at Knies' Gordie Howe hat trick:

Following the game, Knies was asked about his first career NHL fight, which he initiated, coming to the aid of teammate Max Domi, who was hit hard and high-sticked in the face a moment earlier. Domi was shaken up on the play and that's all Knies needed to see before going after Pittsburgh's John Ludwig. Funny enough, Knies admits to blacking out during a scrap.

Although Knies' fight was a brief one, it's good to know that the Leafs have really become more feisty and are not taking things lying down anymore. These guys are actually coming to each other's aid more often and have become a lot harder to play against as a result. You love to see it.