Nylander questionable for Maple Leafs in Sport 2 of Jap 1st Spherical – NHL.com

Toronto should discover manner in opposition to Bruins if ahead is unavailable once more
© Invoice Wippert/NHLI by way of Getty Photographs
BOSTON — William Nylander stays questionable for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Sport 2 of the Jap Convention First Spherical in opposition to the Bruins Bruins at TD Backyard on Monday (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, NESN, SN, TVAS, CBC) due to an undisclosed harm.
The ahead was on the ice for the morning skate Monday after he didn’t play in a 5-1 loss within the best-of-7 sequence opener Saturday, when he was a game-time choice. Nylander participated in an optionally available morning skate Sunday, which was believed to be his first time on the ice since taking part in 17:29 within the Maple Leafs’ regular-season finale, a 6-4 loss on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday.
“It is nice. Good to see him with the group. Seems to be good on the market,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe stated Monday. … “We’ll see how he feels the remainder of the day right here and decide.”
Nylander performed all 82 regular-season video games for Toronto and completed second on the staff in scoring with an NHL career-high 98 factors (40 targets, 58 assists), trailing solely Auston Matthews (107 factors; 69 targets, 38 assists). Nylander completed tenth within the NHL in factors.
The wholesome members of the Maple Leafs’ 4 core forwards — Matthews, Mitch Marner and John Tavares — have been held off the rating sheet in Sport 1, a sign of how a lot Nylander was wanted.
“He’s an enormous a part of our staff,” ahead Ryan Reaves stated. “A man who can put the puck within the internet, a man who can get away the puck by himself. He can carry the play, does a bit little bit of all the things. You want these guys on the ice and particularly within the playoffs.
“Yeah, he’s missed. I don’t know what his standing is; hopefully he’s able to go. You desire a wholesome group for positive.”
Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe stated Nylander appeared to be in “nice spirits” Sunday.
“Willy does so many nice issues for us,” McCabe stated. “He can create by himself, frankly, seemingly out of nothing performs. He’s a menace all around the ice offensively for us, he kills penalties for us too. He’s an excellent chief for us within the room. So yeah, in quite a lot of areas.”
The Maple Leafs have misplaced eight straight regular- and postseason video games to the Bruins, together with 5 in 2023-24. They’ve misplaced six consecutive playoff sequence to Boston, together with 4 since 2013. They’ve gone eight consecutive playoff video games scoring two targets or fewer.
However they imagine they will get better.
“We’ve executed all of it yr,” Reaves stated. “We’ve had stretches the place we couldn’t win a pair video games, we bounced again and strung loads collectively. We’ve had video games the place we acquired completely waxed and got here again the subsequent day actually sturdy. I’m not nervous concerning the bounce again.”
Keefe emphasised that the Maple Leafs didn’t have to alter their plan or their method in opposition to the Bruins. They simply have to execute and keep out of the penalty field after taking six penalties in Sport 1.
They should have brief reminiscences.
“The ‘Hakuna Matata’ sort of motto,” Reaves stated. “You’ll be able to’t be nervous about what occurred prior to now. You’ve simply acquired to look ahead, and I feel that’s what this group’s going to do.”
It’s what Toronto was in a position to do final season after it misplaced Sport 1 of its first-round sequence in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning however superior for the primary time since 2004.
“It’s a playoff sequence,” Keefe stated. “You’ve acquired to have the ability to bounce again. You’ve acquired to have the ability to transfer on and also you make your changes and also you get again at it. That’s actually it. You’ll be able to’t get too labored up about it. Whether or not the sport finishes the way in which it did final night time or whether or not we lose the sport in time beyond regulation, we’re nonetheless down 1-0.
“You’ve acquired to have the ability to cope with it. We’ve been by means of this, and we’ve bounced again effectively. We’ve a possibility to do this once more tomorrow.”
With or with out Nylander.
NHL.com unbiased correspondent Joe Pohoryles contributed to this report
🔹 Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
🔹 Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
🔹 New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals
🔹 Carolina Hurricanes vs. New York Islanders
🔹 Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden Knights
🔹 Winnipeg Jets vs. Colorado Avalanche
🔹 Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators
🔹 Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

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