Maple Leafs’ Disappointing Defeat Against the Oilers
In a disappointing defeat against the Edmonton Oilers, the Toronto Maple Leafs had star winger William Nylander sidelined for the final six minutes and seven seconds of the match. Consequently, he managed just 13 minutes and 46 seconds of ice time, marking the least amount he has played this season. Nylander’s line, which included Bobby McMann and John Tavares, struggled significantly, contributing to the team’s overall inefficacy on the ice. The group was present for two of Edmonton’s even-strength goals and was unable to score, resulting in Nylander finishing the game with a minus-3 rating.
Nylander’s Illness and Reduced Ice Time
Prior to the match, Nylander was unable to participate in the team’s morning skate due to illness. Following the game, Leafs’ head coach Craig Berube elaborated on the decision-making surrounding Nylander’s reduced ice time in the third period.
“He played tonight, but obviously he wasn’t even close to 75 percent,” Berube elaborated. “He was sick but pushed through. Still, I didn’t see any reason to keep him out there.”
While Nylander’s situation did not fall strictly under the definition of a benching, it nonetheless was a rare occurrence since his last low point in ice time occurred during a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins back on April 6, 2023. Despite his compromised condition, Nylander has been a vital player for the Maple Leafs, currently leading the team with 34 points accumulated over 27 games. Notably, he had just come off a two-point effort against the San Jose Sharks in a game played on December 11.
Impact of Other Players’ Absences
Complicating matters for the Maple Leafs, Dakota Joshua was also unable to play due to illness, leaving the second and third lines weakened. This situation necessitated McMann’s return after serving a one-game suspension. The strategy of opting for a debilitated Nylander instead of Matias Maccelli, who has not played since November 28, remains a point of contention, especially given Nylander’s performance.
Ultimately, a pivotal late second-period goal shifted the momentum in favor of the Oilers, who proceeded to score three additional goals, leading to the replacement of Dennis Hildeby in net and the NHL debut of Artur Akhtyamov.
