‘I Don't Know If I See A Guy Get More Breakaways’: Maple Leafs’ William Nylander Impresses With Creative Goal Against Ducks

Nylander has 13 home goals this season which ranks first in the NHL.

The Toronto Maple Leafs claimed their second straight win with a 3-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night at Scotiabank Arena, and it was the second line that led the charge. William Nylander’s creative midair goal – part of a standout performance – was the highlight of the night, putting his impressive hand-eye coordination on full display.

Scoring the second goal of the night, extending the Leafs’ lead to 2-0, Nylander flipped the puck up and batted it in out of midair after a give-and-go with teammate Max Pacioretty – just getting enough to raise the puck over Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal. 

“He's a talented, talented guy, I'll tell you,” said head coach Craig Berube post-game. “I mean, I don't know if I see a guy get more breakaways. He gets one a game at least and sometimes he gets more. I mean, Willy was really good tonight for me, I think, all around.”

The goal tally marked Nylander’s team-leading 18th of the season, with 13 of those coming at Scotiabank Arena on home ice – ranking first in the NHL. The club boasts an impressive 38-5-5 record since the 2023-24 season when Nylander scores.

The Maple Leafs’ victory was also aided by Nylander’s strong all-around play. In addition to his goal, Nylander registered a plus-3 rating, and his seven shots on goal were a team-high. The 28-year-old’s recent success against the Ducks continued, as he now has six goals, eight assists, and 14 points in his last nine games against Anaheim.

“He did a lot of good things, and not just the opportunities and the chances he gets, which he had a lot of them. And I know he's not very happy about not putting more in the net, but he worked, did a lot of good things, made strong plays,” said Berube of Nylander. “His puck battles are high, he wins a lot of battles with the puck, which is important.” 

Nylander post-game reflected on his goal, noting its similarity to a goal he scored five years ago in a 6-0 Maple Leafs win in Detroit on November 27, 2019. Much like Thursday’s goal, he batted the puck out of the air, and although the previous goal was a five-hole finish, the approach was strikingly similar.

“I remember wanting to (score) in Detroit kind of the same thing, but went five-hole,” Nylander said. “Kind of, something like that, kind of similar.”

In that sequence, Nylander batted the puck out of the air and had a quick one-timer on his tape – which he put past former Maple Leafs goaltender, then-Red Wing, Jonathan Bernier.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ntzCBymlc[/embed]

Despite the impressive goal, Nylander had several other opportunities to add to his tally. Whether creating chances on his own or benefiting from the playmaking of linemates John Tavares and Pacioretty, Nylander was a constant threat.

Through 29 games, the Swede now has 18 goals, 11 assists, and 29 points – which ranks second most on the team behind Mitch Marner.