Without a point in his last four games, Maple Leafs forward William Nylander hasn’t been pleased with his play, but head coach Sheldon Keefe saw enough improvement in Tuesday's game to move him back up at practice on Wednesday.

ELMONT, N.Y. — William Nylander hasn’t been pleased with his play as of late.

Shortly after the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 7-2 loss against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, the dynamic winger sounded off about his lack of offensive push.

"I haven't been happy about my game, I've been pissed off about it," he said. "It happens and you just have to dig yourself out of it."

In the third period of Tuesday's game, Maple Leafs head coach moved Nylander back up to the second line in an effort to help kickstart his team's offense. This was just days after the coach had called out the forward's game, saying he wasn't going to the net as much and keeping his game at the perimeter.

"I thought he had a good game," Keefe said of Nylander's play on Wednesday. "I thought he — like other guys — wasn't able to make that next play or next piece happen to get anything substantial offensively."

Nylander remained on the team's second line at practice on Wednesday, as a reward for doing his part to keep the game within reach in the third period.

And while the team struggled as a whole he showed enough of a push to at least stay on the second line alongside team captain John Tavares.

"He was definitely skating in the neutral zone and had the puck a lot and got us good spots and that's what John requires of him," Keefe added. 

Although he didn't get any points, Nylander had an expected-goals rating of 84 percent against the Islanders, according to NaturalStatTrick.com. This after three consecutive games of logging an expected-goals share in the mid-20s.  

Nylander is in the midst of a season-high stretch of four games without recording a point, but putting him back in a familiar spot with Tavares could help the forward find his groove.

"Everyone has slow games during the season so today was a step in the right direction."

Nylander set a new career high in goals with 35 this season and had added 44 assists in 70 games.

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