TORONTO — William Nylander is having a career season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, on pace to shatter his previous NHL highs in goals, assists and points.
But in the midst of his success, the forward has not been oblivious to his close friend this season David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins is putting together. The forward is second in the NHL in goals with 38 and fourth in points with 71 entering Monday.
“He’s been on fire,” Nylander said. “It’s fun to see that happen when you have a buddy just go off like that. It doesn’t seem like he’s stopping.”
The two will meet on Wednesday when the Maple Leafs host the Bruins at Scotiabank Arena (7:30 pm ET; TVAS, SN, NESN, SN NOW, ESPN+) in each team’s final game prior to the All-Star break and bye week.
Nylander, who is tied for the Maple Leafs lead in points with the forward Mitchell Marner (59) and leads them in goals (28), set his career highs last season with 34 goals, 46 assists and 80 points in 81 games.
Video: OTT@TOR: Nylander pushes in a PPG to tie it
The Bruins (38-7-5) lead the Maple Leafs (31-12-8) by 11 points for first in the Atlantic Division but enter the game having lost three in a row (0-2-1) for the first time. this season. Toronto will conclude a five-game homestand having gone 3-1-0 through the first four games.
Nylander said a Toronto regulation win would go a long way toward making the division race more interesting down the stretch.
“We’re just trying to claw our way back,” Nylander said. “We just have to keep winning games and just see what happens. They’re on an incredible pace and obviously hard to catch if they keep winning but we’re going to try our best to try to do that.”
Nylander was named the NHL’s second star of the week ending Jan. 29, with seven points (four goals, three assists) in four games and is currently on a seven-game point streak (six goals, six assists).
“It’s nice to get that kind of recognition, but I mean, all we’ve got to do is win games,” Nylander said. “That (personal recognition) doesn’t really matter.”
It would have been understandable for Nylander had he remained off the ice Monday during Toronto’s optional skill development practice but instead, he took the ice to work on some areas of his game he felt needed attention.
“I just felt it was nice to work on some small things I don’t usually get to work on during practice days, so it was nice to get out there for 20 minutes,” Nylander said. “Just shooting and some handling the puck around the walls.”
Often the first player on the ice for full practices and morning skates, Nylander’s desire to put in work does not surprise coach Sheldon Keefe.
“It’s not uncommon when this facility is dark and it’s a full off day that he will find his way in here on the ice to make sure he gets what he needs,” Keefe said. “… Willy is not afraid to work and do what he needs to do to get ready.”
Alexander Kerfootwho centered a line with Nylander and left wing Calle Jarnkrok in Toronto’s 5-1 win against the Washington Capitals on Sunday, was not surprised by Nylander’s work ethic either.
“He likes being on the ice,” Kerfoot said of Nylander. “He’s always there, he’s a worker. He knows what he needs to do to get ready, so I’m not surprised.”
Video: NYI@TOR: Nylander fires in a wrist shot
The Maple Leafs will play their third straight game without a center Austin Matthews, who is out a minimum of three weeks with a knee sprain, on Wednesday. In the past two seasons, Nylander has elevated his play in the 13 games Matthews has missed, scoring 16 points (eight goals, eight assists). Toronto is 9-4-0 in those games.
“He’s just the same old guy,” Kerfoot said. “He’s had a remarkable year, it seems no matter where he’s playing in the lineup, who he’s playing with, he’s producing and producing at an elite rate and just doesn’t seem to be having many nights off this year. He’s just been really consistent and every night he is a force out there.”
Despite his strong season, Nylander will not be at the 2023 Honda NHL All-Star Game this weekend. The Maple Leafs will be represented by Marner. Matthews earned a selection through the 2023 NHL All-Star Fan Vote presented by Guaranteed Rate but was replaced by the Florida Panthers captain. Alexander Barkov due to his injury.
But even though Nylander will not be at the All-Star Game, he still thinks of himself among the game’s elite.
“That’s where I’m trying to be and where I think my game can be, so that’s what I expect of myself,” Nylander said.
.