William Nylander is moving past the Olympics experience as Leafs enter home stretch

William Nylander is putting his Olympics experience behind him, as the Toronto Maple Leafs enter the home stretch of the regular season. Toronto is currently looking at the playoff race from the outside, six points out of the second wild-card spot. Nylander reflected on his experience in Milano Cortina, as the Maple Leafs prepare for a two-game road stand against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers.

Auston Matthews was absent from practice, travelling with the United States men’s national hockey team after winning the gold medal. Nylander is excited for his teammate, while simultaneously reeling from a quarterfinal exit.

“Obviously, I’m super happy for (Auston) and what he was able to accomplish there,” Nylander said following Tuesday’s practice. “But I’m upset that we lost. But it was a great game and they did a great job. It’s not an easy feat to win the gold medal.”

Nylander said he hasn’t spoken to Matthews after winning the gold medal, but said he told him to go win it all, following the United States’ victory over Sweden in the quarterfinals.

“It was very special. It was frustrating, because it’s now four years until the next one. That’s been on my mind the last couple of days.”

Toronto sports a 27-21-9 record and could be trending towards a reset, if the club misses the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. Nylander is the Maple Leafs’ leading score and a core part of the leadership group. With 25 games remaining, and the Maple Leafs sporting frail chances of making the playoffs, every game may take on a playoff-like atmosphere from here onwards.

“Every game down the stretch isn’t going to be easy. Everybody’s battling. If it goes the way we want it go, it will build character, it will be good for us.”

Nylander was placed on a line with Matias Maccelli and Calle Jarnkrok during Tuesday’s practice, with John Tavares out due to illness. He was the first skater on the ice, and it’s clear that Nylander is fully locked onto the task ahead, in what should be an uphill battle for the Maple Leafs this spring.