The Toronto Maple Leafs confirmed that forward William Nylander exited Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights due to a lower-body injury and would not be returning to the ice. Details surrounding the injury are limited, but it is believed that Nylander rolled his ankle after scoring in the first period.
Despite the early exit, Nylander had a productive game, recording a goal and an assist within just over two minutes of ice time. After 37 games this season, Nylander has tallied 17 goals and 31 assists, bringing his total to 48 points. Over the course of his impressive 11-year NHL career, all spent with the Maple Leafs, he has scored 279 goals and provided 381 assists for a total of 660 points across 722 regular-season games. Nylander has achieved the impressive milestone of reaching the 40-goal mark three times, with a peak performance of 45 goals during the 2024-25 season. He also amassed a career-high of 98 points in the previous 2023-24 season.
In playoff scenarios, Nylander has continued to be a vital asset, notching 26 goals and 32 assists for 58 points through 67 games. Last postseason, he stood out as the team’s leading scorer with 15 points in 13 games.
This game marked a significant encounter for Mitch Marner, who faced his former team after signing with the Golden Knights in the offseason. Leafs captain Auston Matthews spoke positively about Marner, emphasizing their ongoing friendship and the bond they share despite the change in teams. Their camaraderie was on display during warm-ups, with Matthews commenting on their time spent together on the ice.
Heading into the matchup, the Maple Leafs were positioned at 23-16-7 with a total of 53 points, placing them sixth in the Atlantic Division, just one point shy of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. The team continues to strive for a playoff position as the season unfolds.