Arun Srinivasan

@Arunthings

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William Nylander, the breakaway man, for the hat-trick!

4:54 AM · Feb 5, 2025

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Toronto Maple Leafs

@MapleLeafs

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How many did Willy get tonight? Johnny:

5:26 AM · Feb 5, 2025

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Here are six takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 6-3 win:

• William Nylander’s even-keeled demeanour and offensive excellence are qualities that often define this Maple Leafs team, and he was rewarded with a homecoming hat-trick. Nylander equalized the game in the second period with an expertly placed one-timer, and his second goal was a real thing of beauty, flying in off the rush to snipe Dustin Wolf in the low corner. The breakaway man picked off MacKenzie Weegar for his game-sealing hat-trick, and was a constant force for Toronto’s second line. John Tavares’ initial goal was called back due to a high-stick but Nylander continued to hunt offence throughout the night, finishing with a team-best six shots. An electrifying talent, Nylander is now four goals back of Leon Draisaitl for the league lead, and the Rocket Richard race is firmly back on.
• Morgan Rielly was subject to plenty of criticism for a string of poor performances, and I wrote as much as well for OilersNation ahead of Saturday’s game, noting that his decline was hard to ignore. Rielly was terrific, he entered the rush, hunted for offence without risking anything defensively, and generated three shots on goal from six individual chances. He was calm and composed in his own end, he mitigated Calgary’s offence off the rush, while the Maple Leafs finished with a plus-five (10-5) shot differential when he was on the ice, along with an 84 percent share of the expected goals via Natural Stat Trick. Rielly will need to contribute more offence and while not all teams are as inviting as the Flames, this is the blue print, and he was excellent in all facets of the game, while leading the team with 23:00 in ice time.
• Max Domi did well with his opportunity on the first line, even if it didn’t show up in the scoresheet. Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies worked their two-man game to perfection and were stellar on the power play without Domi, but Domi was defensively responsible and tried to find key looks for his teammates all night. It’s a combination that Berube can use in case of emergency — Marner being out of the lineup certainly constitutes an emergency — and it’s another clear sign that Domi is best suited to the wing in an optimal Maple Leafs’ lineup. Perhaps this informs the team’s approach at the trade deadline.
• Berube has previously emphasized that Toronto’s power play is at its best when Knies and Tavares are out there, with the focus on having two big bodies down low, near the net-front. Nylander scored Toronto’s first goal off a one-timer from Knies, who played to his strengths Tuesday, Matthews is an all-around dynamo, and Tavares effectively lives in a slot, which was apparent on his backhand goal to give Toronto a 2-1 lead. Tavares’ initial goal in the first period was called off as well, and in tandem with Nylander, he was hunting for his offence the whole night. Simplify the game, and good things happen. And for all the concern about the power play: Toronto has clicked at a 32.4 percent rate since January 1, the fourth-best total in the NHL!
• The puck keeps dying on Pontus Holmberg’s stick and while Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson have found some real chemistry, it’s getting harder to trust Holmberg in any scenario. Maybe there’s something Craig Berube is seeing that isn’t apparent to the viewing public or Leafs media, but the need for a third-line centre starts with the idea that Holmberg isn’t ready for the playoffs. He’s refusing key shots and even if he’s demoted to the bottom-six, David Kampf is better suited for the role. It’s something to consider as we march closer to the February break.
• It was a runaway win, but Toronto may not survive the first period if it weren’t for Chris Tanev’s shot-blocking excellence. Tanev was outstanding on the penalty kill, you can’t fault him or Joseph Woll for Matt Coronato’s opening goal on a 5-on-3, and the Maple Leafs’ veteran defenceman blocked five shots while playing 22:37. Get through the west coast swing, then it’s time to consider giving Tanev some load management, as the Maple Leafs firmly plan ahead for the playoffs.

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