The Toronto Maple Leafs will play the Boston Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
And if they want to avoid elimination, they need to see better performances from William Nylander.
Of course, Auston Matthews has had a season for the ages, but Toronto’s other star players could improve, and William Nylander is one of them.
The Swede started the season great, with a lengthy point streak, but he ended the regular season on an eleven-game goal-less drought.
As the Maple Leafs officially ended the regular season in a 6-4 defeat against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nylander yet again failed to make an impact.
Nylander’s loss of form is certainly a cause for concern, and during his eleven-game goal-less drought, he only had four points.
And against the Lightning, Nylander made a play that had fans absolutely furious.
It’s understandable that players don’t give their all in the regular season’s last game, especially with nothing to play for, as the case was for Toronto last night.
But during the game, Nylander completely ignored the forecheck, allowing Tampa to go on a breakaway that led to a goal.
The video of Nylander’s non-existent defensive work quickly went viral, with fans calling it ’unacceptable.’
”I know it’s game 82 but what is going through Nylander’s head?” said Adam Wylde, CEO of sdnp Sports, who produces Steve Dangle and Chris Johnston’s podcasts.
Nylander stopped skating because a high stick was involved, but he could’ve stopped the play instead of skating as slow as possible, allowing a wide-open pass.
”Willy on vacation already haha,” one fan said.
”That was awful!” another said.
”He got paid,” a third added, referring to his newly signed contract.
