Max Domi and Matthew Knies each scored twice for the Toronto Maple Leafs, leading the team to a 4-3 victory over the Calgary Flames. Domi responded to the challenge issued by head coach Craig Berube, while Knies continued to operate as a constant offensive threat for the Maple Leafs.

Ahead of Tuesday’s game, Berube spoke candidly about Domi’s season-to-date.

“Up and down. Missed a lot of camp. That always hurts a guy a little bit. Just kind of not fully healthy, in my opinion,” Berube said of Domi following Tuesday’s optional morning skate.

Domi responded emphatically, while primarily being paired on the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and Nick Robertson. It was a great performance from a player who is often tasked with shooting more frequently.

Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves in the winning effort.

Max Domi registered one goal through the first nine games of the season and throughout his Maple Leafs’ tenure, there’s been an edict issues for him to shoot more often. Domi responded with two goals in his finest performance of the season. The veteran forward was among four Maple Leafs with three shots at 5-on-5 each, and his first goal of the game was the turning point.

Domi took advantage of some chaos at the blue line and broke free for a 2-on-1 with Steven Lorentz, looking off his linemate before wiring a shot cleanly past Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf. It changed the tenor of the contest, and Domi picked up his offensive activity from there onwards. He was engaged, getting shots on goal and trying to create looks for his linemates, before being bumped up in the lineup as a reward for his strong play Tuesday.

Domi and Knies collided with each other in a chaotic third period sequence in the offensive zone, but it all worked out. John Tavares rejected the Flames’ breakout attempt, keeping the puck in the offensive zone, before Knies and Domi ran a slick give-and-go on the game-winning goal.

It wasn’t a perfect game: Domi and Brandon Carlo submitted a poor closing effort on Joel Farabee, as the Flames took a 2-1 lead. One major blemish doesn’t overshadow Domi’s excellent offensive performance on Tuesday.

“Max, for me, the last three games have been a different player, just more engaged. And when he’s an engaged player, he’s a good player,” Berube assessed post-game.

Domi was awarded the team belt, given to the Leafs’ best or most impactful player in a winning effort. It was certainly deserved, and Domi elected to downplay his individual accomplishments post-game.

Matthew Knies can take over games with his combination of speed, size, power and hockey intelligence and he bullied the Flames quite often throughout Tuesday’s game. Knies scored twice, where his deft first touch around the net paid dividends. As the Maple Leafs trailed in the final minute of the second period, William Nylander picked off Flames captain Mikael Backlund and found Knies at the front of the net, who then outwaited Wolf to tie the game entering the second intermission.

Knies finished a team-best 82 percent of the expected goals at 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick, while the shots were 9-4 for the Leafs when he was on the ice at 5-on-5.

“Matthew Knies had a great game tonight. He was so strong on pucks and won battles and he had a really good game,” Berube said post-game.

Knies’ second goal was a key example of what the Maple Leafs need to do more often on the power play. Auston Matthews fired a shot on goal and all hell broke loose trying to corral the ensuing rebound. Matthews and Tavares jammed away at the puck before Knies tucked it home. Berube previously spoke about the emphasis on having two power forwards at the net with the man advantage, and Knies at his best unlocks it all.

“He’s a beast,” Domi said of Knies post-game. “He’s been playing some good hockey. Obviously some bounces go here and there for him, but tonight he hit the puck on a string. I think when he goes into traffic and he can come through, I mean it’s like a one-on-three, almost on a forecheck and he somehow comes out with the puck. It’s pretty impressive. It’s a big part of what makes him, him. And he did a great job of that tonight.”

Auston Matthews generated five of the Maple Leafs’ first 10 shots during the first period, and continued to hunt for offence, even if he’s not scoring at the same rate as he did two years ago. Matthews finished with a team-high six shots in all situations, seven scoring chances, two shot blocks, while winning 55 percent of his faceoffs. He did all the small things well, and it’s unfortunate that he couldn’t find his way onto the scoresheet Tuesday.

Matthews has registered five goals and eight points through 10 games, and he ranks second in the NHL at the time of this filing with 41 shots, trailing only Nathan MacKinnon. It appears to be a matter of time before the goals start pouring in, although this was also our conclusion at the same point last year. The process is correct, now we need to see the results.

Rush defence continues to be a major point of emphasis through the first 10 games, and the Maple Leafs’ struggles against the counterattack may be their greatest weakness during October. Calgary’s Jonathan Huberdeau skated unimpeded through the neutral zone, before finding a wide-open Morgan Frost for the game’s initial goal.

Joel Farabee blew past Max Domi for Calgary’s second goal, while Brandon Carlo watched idly. Morgan Rielly launched the puck into no man’s land during the third period, expecting Philippe Myers to pick up the lateral pass, and Samuel Honzek immediately capitalized for the Flames. Toronto’s inability to defend the counterattack may be the most evident problem through 10 games, although there are some positives to be found in Tuesday’s win.

“It’s improving, that’s the biggest thing,” Stolarz said post-game. “It’s a long process, it’s a long season. You’re gonna have those break downs, it’s inevitable. We’re all human, we’re gonna make mistakes. They’re gonna get odd-man rushes, we’re gonna get odd-man rushes. I liked our game tonight, I think we kind of limited their chances. Guys were smart about stepping up in the neutral zone, and I thought we formed a wedge in the middle there and limited their offence.”