'Big-Time Stuff': William Nylander Raises His Game to Stanley Cup Playoffs Level With Two-Goal Performance to Help Maple Leafs Force Game 7 Against Bruins
After missing the first three games of their series with Boston it's very clear that playoffs Nylander is so back.
When William Nylander made his 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs debut, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe cautioned that it was going to be tough for his start to find this regular form in the first game of the series.
But now into his third game of this series, Nylander returned to his usual self, scoring twice to help his club defeat the Boston Bruins 2-1 and force a Game 7 back at TD Garden on Saturday.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgOTfn9ke6Y[/embed]
Fighting for their playoff lives again, the low-event game saw both teams struggle to find quality scoring chances. That was until late in the second period when the skilled forward just took a shot from a great distance that somehow found its way past Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman with under one minute to go in the second period.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzDfTD9lQrs[/embed]
"He's a heck of a game-breaker," Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said of Nylander. "When he's got the puck on his stick, he can make something happen at any time.. Not surprising. We love having him here."
Protecting a 1-0 lead into the third period, Nylander seemingly put the game away after receiving a feed from linemate Matthew Knies.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN0h-kJ68KA[/embed]
"I mean, he's yelling for it, he's calling for it. He's got a good opportunity there and all I had to do was put it on his stick and pretty cool move that he made there. And yeah, it was a good play by him," Knies said of the goal.
The Maple Leafs played this game without Auston Matthews for the second consecutive game due to what was being described as an illness but presumed to be something more. Scoring has still been challenging for Toronto, who mustered just two shots on goal in a four-minute power-play opportunity.
Nylander, who missed the first three games due to a reported migraine issue, has impressed with the way his team has played defensively in place of an offense that has 11 goals in six games.
"It sucked being on the sidelines, but I was so proud of the team, the way they were competing and battling in those games I was out, and nice to be able to come back and score some goals," Nylander said. "The team has been battling, and obviously Matty's out too, so I think we're just competing every night."
In addition to Joseph Woll providing the solid goaltending over the last couple of games necessary to help make up for a lack of goals, Nylander now has 19 goals in 53 playoff games. Seven of those goals have come in games where his club was facing elimination.
"Incredible, big-time stuff. That's what you're, that's what you're looking for, you know, from a player of his caliber," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Nylander. "I think we all know Willy is a guy that's come through for us in the playoffs and finds a way, but he was outstanding tonight, not just in the two goals, but he competed extremely hard off the puck, defended really hard."
The Maple Leafs were essentially written off for dead following Nylander's series debut in Game 4. But the Leafs now hold the momentum going back to Boston for Game 7. If there was any doubt about Nylander's health in his return, it's clear the forward is so back.
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