BUFFALO — The thing about adversity is you donâ€t get to choose when it hits.
William Nylander — the teamâ€s leading scorer (14 points) and most impactful ice-tilter (plus-4) this season — left Fridayâ€s 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in the third after absorbing a hard cross-check from Jason Zucker, who was returning from an injury of his own.
Watching the Leafs attempt to dig out of another self-inflicted second-period deficit without their most reliable game-breaker at the ready provided a chilling snapshot of how swiftly depth can evaporate.
Could the durable Nylander — an expert at slipping hits who hasnâ€t missed a regular-season match since 2021-22 — miss Saturdayâ€s rematch at home against these plucky Sabres?
“Maybe,†coach Craig Berube said postgame, cautiously. “Yeah, weâ€ll see.â€
Through eight uneven and generally joyless games, the 3-4-1 Maple Leafs have screamed maybe and weâ€ll see.
Top offensive defenceman Morgan Rielly (undisclosed) is also questionable to play Saturday. Top defensive defenceman Chris Tanev (upper body) is out a week minimum. And who knows how much time No. 2 goaltender Joseph Woll needs to return to game shape?
On the heels of a three-game losing skid, is it safe to say Toronto is still searching for its full 60, its true identity?
“Yeah, I would say so,†said captain Auston Matthews in another downtempo post-game interview. “I mean, itâ€s never ideal when you lose guys to injury, especially key guys. And so, we got guys coming in that havenâ€t really played or are coming up with very short notice.
“Guys got to pick each other up, encourage each other and do what you can and fill those roles. But I definitely think weâ€re still trying to find our game.â€
Until injury struck late, Nylander — ushered in as the fixer to Matthews†underwhelming top line — enjoyed some impressive shifts with the top centre, who has endured a revolving door on his right wing since Mitch Marner left.
It used to be that the Maple Leafs conducted themselves with the swagger of a team that holds the active streak for playoff qualification (nine years runninâ€).
Odd, then, that they lose to a loose but energetic Sabres squad that holds the longest playoff drought and speaks so glowingly about their improving effort.
“The disappointing thing is, I thought we competed really hard and did a lot of good things, but there’s just too many mistakes going the other way, and too many odd-man rushes against. And they feed off transition. You get caught, and they make you pay,†Matthews said.
“Thatâ€s the most frustrating part, just because I thought we really played a hard game tonight. I thought we did a lot of really good things. I thought we were rolling four lines, just competing at a higher level, a level that we need to compete to win games consistently.â€
Coach Craig Berube agreed that his group played more to their identity, killing a 118-second 5-on-3 with gritty shot-blocking (take a bow, Jake McCabe), scoring a tic-tac-toe power-play goal, and earning a 12-8 edge in high-danger chances.
“I love the effort tonight. I thought a lot of good things. Competed extremely hard. You know, the back endâ€s banged up, but guys played hard,†Berube said. “They outscored us. Thatâ€s really the bottom line.
“This game here showed me the speed of our team when we play direct. The compete. The heaviness. Just tons of shots going towards the cage, puck recoveries, things like that.â€
The coach isnâ€t wrong.
Despite the dual debuts of depth D-men Dakota Mermis (dash-2) and Philippe Myers (dash-3), the Leafs did submit their best effort of the week.
Yet, Buffalo hung a handful on goalie Anthony Stolarz, who was again tested by some deadly odd-man rushes and breakaways.
“Itâ€s a lot for him,†Berube said. “We leaned on him heavy here, a lot of games, a lot of hockey played. So, Iâ€m sure he’s tired a little bit.â€
Stolarz has started seven of eight, the weightiest load heâ€s ever carried to begin a season. Heâ€s 2-4-1 with an .885 save percentage — and, funny enough, has arguably been the teamâ€s most consistent performer.
Heâ€ll get a well-deserved day off Saturday. But with Nylander and Rielly banged up, that only ups the urgency for backup Cayden Primeau to earn points.
“Just keep working. I mean, it’s an 82-game season,†encouraged Stolarz, speaking with two large bags of ice strapped to his surgically repaired knees.
“Compared to the last couple games, this game was a step. You can definitely tell the intensity was a step up for us. So, the great thing is, we get to go back tomorrow. We get to play â€em right back, right back in our own barn. Weâ€re looking forward to that.â€
Spin positive. Hope it leads to a positive result.
And cross your fingers that Nylander, the best right wing available, bounces back fast.
• Woll, who took a personal leave on Sept. 23, will be rejoining the Leafs and resuming on-ice activities.
Because Woll was placed on retroactive long-term injured reserve this week for cap purposes, the earliest he could suit up is Nov. 1 in Philadelphia. (Ex-Flyer Scott Laughton is also striving for that return date.)
Woll will need time to get up to speed after missing the bulk of training camp and the first 10 games (minimum) of the season.
The Maple Leafs are likely to give Primeau a couple more starts as they are staring at back-to-back back-to-backs.
“Heâ€s a great human being. Heâ€s somebody whoâ€s been around this group a long time, and somebody who Iâ€m friends with very closely,†Stolarz says.
“So, just to get him back, for us, could be a huge spark. Could give us a little energy. And just seeing his face around the room, it’s gonna be exciting. Great for us.â€
• Dakota Joshua emphatically celebrated his first goal as a Maple Leaf.
“Means a lot. I guess, more of a relief. Nice to get one,†the power forward said. “Itâ€s just the give and take of this game, right? It doesnâ€t owe you anything.
“You know, you’re with a new team, and you want to make an impact every night. And I havenâ€t had my best start to the season, so it was nice to get one.â€
Berube believes Joshua — who has a team-low minus-6 and was brought in to bang in some secondary scoring — is trending in the right direction
“Long way to go,†Joshua said. “Just got to keep working.â€
• Toronto has been trying to showcase the talents of Nick Robertson early this season — heck, the sniper has even been tapped for penalty-kill duty — but he was scratched Friday after failing to convert on any of his 15 shots.
“Heâ€s had some chances to score. Just has missed the shot, missed the net,†Berube said. “Heâ€s going to be fine. Heâ€s getting those opportunities. Heâ€s got to bury â€em.â€
Robertson is a minus-4 and has one assist.
He could return to action Saturday against these Sabres.
• The Sabres switched their goal song this season, as Mötley Crüeâ€s “Kickstart My Heart†narrowly defeated Cascadaâ€s “Everytime We Touch†in a pre-season fan vote.
Whenever the club wears its throwback red-and-black Goat Head sweaters, as they did Friday, “Song 2†by Blur blasts after the home club scores.
Great choice, and a nod to a mid-2000s musical tradition, as Blur soundtracked the Sabres†run to the Eastern Conference final in 2005-06.
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson looked inspired by his promotion to the top power-play unit in the absence of Morgan Rielly, logging a game-high 25:50 and ripping a team-high four shots.
The veteran mentioned back in training camp how heâ€d love to contribute more 5-on-4. He assisted on Matthews†power-play blast and sprung Nylander with a beautiful stretch pass for Torontoâ€s opening goal.
“Obviously, we want Mo out on the ice, and hopefully heâ€s back soon,†the dynamic lefty said. “For me, itâ€s stepping in and trying to do the best I can to help the team out. But obviously itâ€s nice to get a look there.â€
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.