Nylander has recorded a goal in four of his past five games and leads the Leafs in the category with 10.
With two straight losses and Auston Matthews sidelined due to an upper-body injury, the Toronto Maple Leafs needed someone to step up in their showdown against Boston in an effort to snap the club’s eight-game regular season skid matching up with the Bruins.
Enter William Nylander, who has been on a scoring tear, recording four goals in his previous four games. On Tuesday night, he added another goal, his team-leading 10th marker, helping the Leafs to a decisive 4-0 victory in Boston.
The Leafs were able to turn the tide on special teams, netting three power-play goals and scoring on the man advantage for the first time in back-to-back games this season. Scoring one of three Leafs power-play goals, Nylander has also recorded a goal on the power-play in consecutive games.
The goal resulted from throwing the puck on net, where it looked like Nylander intentionally deflected the puck off the skate of Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo.
When asked about his offensive spark and if he believed the bank shot was intentional, teammate Mitch Marner said, “When Willy's rolling, the whole team's rolling. So it's been great to see.”
“Yeah, (I) told him (the) bank’s open. So those are the bounces that sometimes you need to get something going, especially our power play. So it's great to see that one go in.”
However, Nylander jokingly begged to differ, “No, that's just a blast,” he said, referring to the intended bank shot.
Regardless, the 28-year-old has hit his stride offensively, scoring in four of his last five games and adding an assist on Tuesday. What’s working? He's attributing his red-hot streak to a simple approach.
“I don't know, just maybe shooting the puck a little bit more. But I've been lucky here in the beginning to find the net quite a bit. So, just keep it going, hopefully.”
Head coach Craig Berube has been impressed with Nylander’s all-around effort, emphasizing how the forward has not only been his normal, dynamic offensive self, but has also been notably attentive defensively as well.
“He's being Willy. Scores goals,” Berube explained. “He's a dynamic player. He's one of those offensive guys that the puck goes to him. He knows where the puck's going. He's got a great shot. We all know that the skill level is off the charts.”
“But he's playing a good game, like, all around. Like, he's not just thinking about offense. He's been very good defensively and being in the right spots and doing the right things defensively, which is good.”
Turning to the team’s overall success, Nylander credited the special teams for the Leafs’ win over Boston, with a power-play performance that took advantage of their glaring opportunities – an aspect that’s been seriously lacking. After early-season struggles have plagued their abilities to capitalize on the man advantage, the Leafs finally got some favorable bounces, with Nylander acknowledging the change of fortune.
“Mo's went in first, so that was, like, huge. And then mine, and then Kniesy tipped the third one. So, I mean, it was nice. We were getting those bounces today,” said Nylander. “Maybe they wouldn't be goals in other games, I guess, because we've been struggling. They went in tonight, but I think it was good.”
On the flip side, the Leafs’ penalty kill has been a game-changer for the club. After conceding two power-play goals in their 6-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets on October 28, the Leafs have gone a perfect 16-for-16 on the penalty kill over their last four games, shutting down opponents’ power plays entirely.
With the win and special teams clicking, the Leafs will look to build momentum on home ice and secure consecutive victories, starting with the Detroit Red Wings on Friday night, followed by the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
