Nylander finds the range against Lightning

TORONTO – Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube pulled William Nylander aside for a few long conversations at Monday morning’s skate.

Toronto’s star winger posted an eight-shot zero mark in a 4-1 loss to the New York Rangers last weekend.

Berube had no problem with the way Nylander played. The message was about some details in his game.

The puck bounced his way Monday night.

Nylander opened the scoring and assisted on his team’s second goal before adding another of his own in the Leafs’ 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning in a battle of Atlantic Division heavyweights.

“We came out pretty good,” Nylander said. “We played fast.”

The 28-year-old now has a team-leading five goals in six games for Toronto, which improved to 4-2-0 this season after a 3-1-0 homestand.

“He got a lot of opportunities again,” Berube said. “He skates very well, is strong with pucks, gets on open ice and he wants to shoot.”

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The first-year coach, brought in to get more out of the Leafs’ talented core, was pleased with Nylander’s play but said there were areas where Nylander can improve without the puck.

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Monday was a step in that direction.

“Defensively strong and in a good position,” said Berube, who won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. “He broke up some plays with his stick … and had opportunities the other way.”

Leafs winger Matthew Knies said seeing a player with Nylander’s attacking pedigree emphasize the finer, less glamorous points of the game gets everyone’s attention.

“Skated well, defended well, made some plays, got pucks on net,” Knies said. “He has incredible skills, but when he does simple things like that, it’s contagious.”

Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz — the team’s other star Monday with a 32-save performance — has watched Nylander’s career from afar until this season.

“His poise, his confidence with the puck,” Stolarz said of what stood out about the slick forward’s approach. “He can definitely fire the puck. In practice, he’s just so smart. He’s always pushing and pulling. It’s just a difficult release to read.

“Glad he’s on my side now.”

DISSOLVED

Leafs winger Max Pacioretty returned to the lineup after sitting out the last two games as a healthy scratch.

The 35-year-old former Montreal Canadiens captain, who earned a contract in Toronto after a professional tryout in training camp, scored his second goal of the season on Monday on a long-range shot that Lightning netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy deflected in the second period chased.

“He was a good player for us,” Berube said of Pacioretty. “He was physical, had some big hits and was strong… he’s an effective player.”

IN THE MOMENT

Stolarz improved to 3-2-0 with a .938 save percentage and a 1.79 goals-against average, while fellow goaltender Joseph Woll continues to work his way back from a groin injury that has kept him out of the regular-season lineup.

“Just try to enjoy every day,” said the 30-year-old Stolarz, a backup in his career before 2024-2025. “It is a privilege to play in this competition. We have such a nice group here that it is a lot of fun to come to the ice rink every day.

“Our mission is to do many big things this year. I think games like (Monday) are a nice step in the right direction.”

Berube said before the game that Woll could return to action on Tuesday when Toronto visits the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.

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