The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without forward William Nylander for their divisional matchup against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night. Nylander sustained a lower-body injury during Saturday's 7-5 victory over the Ottawa Senators and did not return to the game.
The incident occurred at 6:22 of the second period when Nylander appeared to tweak something in his left leg while battling for a loose puck in front of the net with Senators defenseman Artem Zub. Replays did not clearly show the exact moment of the injury, but Nylander was visibly uncomfortable as he left the ice. He finished the game with 8:25 of ice time and one goal, a backhand shot that beat Ottawa's goaltender, Linus Ullmark.
Head coach Craig Berube addressed Nylander's status after the game, stating that he is considered day-to-day. While not overly concerned about the severity of the injury, Berube confirmed that Nylander's availability for Sunday's game was in question. Despite the uncertainty, Nylander traveled with the team to Detroit, which Berube viewed as a positive sign.
"He's coming on the trip, so that's a good sign," Berube said. "Lower body right now, we'll see how he is tomorrow".
Nylander's absence is a significant blow to the Maple Leafs' offense. He has been one of their most consistent performers this season, with 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 33 games. He leads the team in points and assists and is second in goals scored. Beyond his scoring, Nylander is a key driver of transition offense and power play creativity.
In Nylander's absence, Easton Cowan will re-enter the lineup after being a healthy scratch for three consecutive games. The 19-year-old rookie will bring pace and forechecking energy to the team. While Cowan cannot directly replace Nylander's offensive output, the team hopes he can provide a spark and seize the opportunity to make an impression.
The rest of the forward group will remain unchanged, signaling confidence in the team's overall structure. The Maple Leafs will need to manage the game carefully against the Red Wings, focusing on short shifts and minimizing unnecessary risks. The team's priority is Nylander's long-term health, and they are choosing to be cautious with one of their most important offensive players.
The Maple Leafs have been plagued by injuries this season, and Nylander's absence is another test of their depth and resilience. The team has recently shown signs of improvement, scoring 13 goals in their last two wins after losing five of their previous six games. However, they remain in 15th place in the Eastern Conference and are not comfortably in a playoff position.
The Maple Leafs' next game is Tuesday night at home against the New Jersey Devils. Nylander's status for that game is uncertain, but the team is hopeful that he will not be sidelined for long.
