Rasmus Sandin gets beat up trying to defend Auston Matthews after dirty hit

During the midway part of the third period, Islander Oliver Wahlstrom takes a run at superstar Auston Matthews, taking his knee out in the process,

Usually, there's no response to these types of plays from the Leafs, much to the frustration of fans, on this play however, defender Rasmus Sandin takes immediate exception and challenges Wahlstrom who knows he has to answer the bell.

Now, let's be honest here, Sandin doesn't win this fight, not in the slightest, but stepping up and doing what you have to earns you a ton of respect from your teammates, As you can see at the end of the clip, both Mark Giordano and Matthews applauded Sandin's effort while he was skating to the box.

This is the kind of the Leafs need to do more often.