'Just Leave Him Alone': How William Nylander Comes Up Clutch In Pivotal Moments For Maple Leafs Against Panthers

Another game, another William Nylander goal, and another memorable celebration.

Fifteen seconds into the second period, Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand beat Joseph Woll for his first goal of the playoffs. Not only did he get his team off to a strong start in the period, but he also gave the Panthers their second lead of the game.

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs were down, they were not out. And if there's anyone who wants a say, it's Nylander.

"I don't think that he feels pressure or anything like that," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Wednesday night. 

Four minutes after Marchand's 2-1 goal, the 29-year-old joined a rush with linemate Max Pacioretty. The veteran forward found Nylander with the puck, and he kicked it from his foot to his stick, then beat Sergei Bobrovsky for his sixth goal in eight playoff games.

It's not the first time Nylander has shown out in key moments during the postseason, and it likely won't be the last. His 13 points — six goals and seven assists — during the playoffs ties him with Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid for the league lead.

It feels like no matter the moment, Nylander rises to the occasion. And Berube agrees.

"Nothing gets to him. He doesn't feel pressure. And I could be wrong, but this is what I see. There's no too big a stage for this guy," said the head coach after Toronto's 4-3 win over the Panthers.

"He thrives on this stuff, in my opinion, and he looks forward to it, and he wants to be in all those critical situations. When he smells something, he's there. That goal is as high-end as it can get. He has great, great skill with his hands. He has unreal hands and the ability on his skates, just cutbacks and all that, it's a high-end player, he really is."

The bigger the stage, the better Nylander plays. That's what Pacioretty has learned throughout this season by being Nylander's teammate.

"He's just all over every night. Always in a good spot. Just works insanely hard," Pacioretty said Wednesday night. "That often gets overlooked because you're blown away by his skill. But he's playing really, really good hockey right now."

There's no one on the Maple Leafs with more points than Nylander. The forward's 13 points are three ahead of Mitch Marner for the team lead, and five in front of the third-place Auston Matthews.

The Maple Leafs are beginning to enter uncharted waters. Never before has this team been up 2-0 in a second-round series. Matter of fact, the Maple Leafs haven't won two in a row in the second round since 2004, against the Philadelphia Flyers.

There appears to be a shift in how Toronto handles key moments.

It was Matthew Knies in Game 1 with his game-winner, putting the Maple Leafs up 1-0 in the series. On Wednesday, 17 seconds after Florida tied the game, it was new father Mitch Marner with the go-ahead goal.

Between that, though, Nylander scored a massive goal. He's coming up clutch in pivotal moments, and Berube joked that he's learned to leave him alone during this time.

"He just plays. And he doesn't want me to talk to him," Berube smiled. "Just leave him alone. I probably should just leave him alone."