TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs are having fun with the advantages of more and more good well being currently.
William Nylander returned from a six-game absence with a objective and two assists because the Leafs handily defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-0 on Saturday. Defenceman Jake McCabe additionally got here again from harm, with fellow blue liner Brandon Carlo having an impactful evening in his third recreation again from harm.
Toronto has been ravaged by accidents for a lot of the season, however now finds itself on a three-game successful streak — a seven-game win streak at house — and one level out of a playoff spot. It wasn’t that way back when the Leafs have been final within the Jap Convention.
“Properly, more healthy for positive,” head coach Craig Berube mentioned of his workforce’s latest success. “Goaltending for positive, extra stabilized, I feel with goaltending accidents and stuff early on.
“We scored objectives all yr, to be trustworthy. I do know the facility play hadn’t, however we have been scoring. We weren’t defending, and we’re defending so much higher and maintaining the puck out of our web. That’s the most important distinction for me. (Penalty kill) has been good all yr.”
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“We’ve simply took it to a different stage and all people’s been extra related,” Nylander added. “That’s an enormous issue to it.”
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The Leafs went 2-for-4 on the facility play, with Matias Maccelli and Nick Robertson getting on the board. However the penalty kill, which Toronto entered the evening as fourth within the league, shined in holding the Canucks scoreless on six energy performs.
“Now we have nice PKers, nice D, nice forwards on the market,” mentioned goaltender Joseph Woll, who had a 29-save shutout. “I feel particular groups are essential, particularly come playoff time.
“So I feel getting that dialed in is essential for us. Now we have an important PK and I really feel assured once we go on the market.”
Woll was additionally appreciative of his workforce’s physicality, particularly across the crease. Max Domi’s pummelling of Marcus Pettersson, who’s seven inches taller than Domi, additionally obtained a shout-out.
“I respect that the blokes, you realize, standing tall across the crease,” Woll mentioned. “I feel that’s essential. We obtained some huge our bodies by means of the lineup and a few not so huge our bodies that take out the massive our bodies like Domes.
“That man’s fearless, and he’s a fairly powerful dude. Not somebody I’d need to battle. Glad he’s on our workforce.”
On the opposite finish, Nylander sparked some early offence with a objective and an help within the opening body.
“Most significantly for our workforce, simply clearly a heck of a participant,” mentioned John Tavares, who was the beneficiary of a Nylander help within the second interval. “Clearly does so much for us. You’ll be able to see his capability to make performs, to attain objectives. Clearly performed nice.”
Nevertheless it was greater than the factors for Berube when it got here to Nylander’s influence.
“For me it was the work,” Berube mentioned of his star winger. “He was skating, he was backchecking, stripping individuals of pucks. And when he does that stuff, he generally is a nice participant, clearly.”
Now the Leafs stay up for a four-game street journey, beginning with a back-to-back set in opposition to the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche and the Utah Mammoth on Monday and Tuesday.
Toronto has a woeful 6-10-2 file on the street this season.
“Clearly actually powerful check developing by means of all 4,” Tavares mentioned. “I feel take the evening tonight to benefit from the victory, regroup once more tomorrow.
“And like we all the time do, you get equipped and ready for the following problem, which clearly, nearly as good as any workforce within the league, might be as quick as any within the league in Colorado. So obtained to be enthusiastic about it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 11, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
