Coach Sheldon Keefe wouldn’t say if William Nylander will make his series debut in Game 3 on Wednesday, when the best-of-seven series between the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins returns to Toronto.
Or couldn’t say.
Keefe spoke to the media in Boston on Tuesday morning before the Leafs flew home, with the series knotted 1-1 following an outstanding win in Game 2. The Leafs did not practice on the ice before their journey.
“No update (on Nylander),” Keefe stated. “There isn’t much going on for us here except getting ready to fly, but he is an option for us (for Game 3), I suppose is all we can say.”
So Keefe says there’s a chance.
While it is unusual for an injured player to return to the lineup without first participating in a full practice, this is the Stanley Cup playoffs, and almost every player is suffering from something every time he goes on the ice. Pushing through pain is part of the deal, and if Nylander can do it, bring him back in.
Nylander didn’t miss a game throughout the regular season and was in the lineup as recently as last Wednesday in Tampa Bay, so it’s hard to believe he’ll be rusty if he plays in Game 3.
The assumption is that Nylander will have an immediate impact, but if the Leafs have to wait until Game 4 on Saturday in Toronto, that’s fine.
Through two games, the Leafs have given the Bruins plenty to think about.
Auston Matthews drove the bus straight into the heart of Beantown on Monday night in Game 2, dominating in all zones en route to a 3-2 triumph.
Matthews has never needed more incentive, but he’s capable of turning it up another level on Wednesday in front of Leafs Nation.
Matthews scored 39 of his 69 regular-season goals at Scotiabank Arena.
The Bruins are becoming increasingly concerned about how to limit Matthews.
“Great guys are going to make plays,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery told reporters in Boston on Tuesday, before the team left for Toronto.
“What has impressed me about him is his tenacity on pucks and on the forecheck. He has a rigorous work ethic.
“First goal (by Max Domi in Game 2): he wins a tussle, rings it off the crossbar, and it goes into our net. In the other play (the Matthews winner), he comes in behind us. We can’t allow him get behind us.
“The most dangerous man on the ice, you must be more cautious with. He’s the most dangerous man on the rink because he deserves it.”
With Matthews setting the tone, the Leafs’ general determination and physicality have been markedly different from what opponents have seen in previous games against Toronto.
There will be plenty of hockey in this series, of course, but the Bruins understand they are up against a different Leafs beast this time.
And bear in mind that this is only the first part of the club that general manager Brad Treliving intends to develop following the Kyle Dubas era.
“They’re constructed differently than in previous years, playing much more physically, committed to forechecking, and playing tight defensively,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said on Tuesday. “You ought to give them credit.
“When you consider their attacking ability, they are a difficult squad to play against right now. We are witnessing it. Even the first game was different than the final score (5-1 for Boston).
“We knew it would be a challenge. They’ve shown up and are playing for keeps. It’s a good challenge.
That difficulty should only rise once Nylander returns. Consider how it will intensify once Mitch Marner begins to make an offensive impact.
“I’m not sure if you necessarily adjust when you lose players,” Keefe remarked. “It effects you on special teams, particularly the power play. We went with (Calle) Jarnkrok (on the top unit) in game one, then (Tyler) Bertuzzi in game two. You attempt to fill the hole and discover something that works.
“At five-on-five, you plug the gap. Jarnkrok returns after we lose Willie, which is beneficial, and you continue on.
“In terms of our game and style of play, don’t overthink things. It’s playoff time, and a certain style of play is essential regardless of whether Willie is present.
“We’ve done a decent job doing that through two games.”
