TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs are having fun with the advantages of more and more good well being recently.
William Nylander returned from a six-game absence with a purpose and two assists because the Leafs handily defeated the Vancouver Canucks 5-0 on Saturday. Defenceman Jake McCabe additionally got here again from damage, with fellow blue liner Brandon Carlo having an impactful night time in his third recreation again from damage.
Toronto has been ravaged by accidents for a lot of the season, however now finds itself on a three-game profitable streak — a seven-game win streak at residence — and one level out of a playoff spot. It wasn’t that way back when the Leafs have been final within the Japanese Convention.
“Properly, more healthy for positive,” head coach Craig Berube mentioned of his workforce’s latest success. “Goaltending for positive, extra stabilized, I believe with goaltending accidents and stuff early on.
“We scored objectives all 12 months, to be trustworthy. I do know the facility play hadn’t, however we have been scoring. We weren’t defending, and we’re defending quite a bit higher and protecting the puck out of our internet. That’s the largest distinction for me. (Penalty kill) has been good all 12 months.”
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“We’ve simply took it to a different degree 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 night time as fourth within the league, shined in holding the Canucks scoreless on six energy performs.
“We now have nice PKers, nice D, nice forwards on the market,” mentioned goaltender Joseph Woll, who had a 29-save shutout. “I believe particular groups are essential, particularly come playoff time.
“So I believe getting that dialed in is essential for us. We now have a fantastic PK and I really feel assured after 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 acquired a shout-out.
“I recognize that the blokes, you realize, standing tall across the crease,” Woll mentioned. “I believe that’s essential. We acquired some large our bodies by means of the lineup and a few not so large our bodies that take out the massive our bodies like Domes.
“That man’s fearless, and he’s a reasonably powerful dude. Not somebody I’d need to combat. Glad he’s on our workforce.”
On the opposite finish, Nylander sparked some early offence with a purpose 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 quite a bit for us. You possibly can see his capability to make performs, to attain objectives. Clearly performed nice.”
However 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 could be a nice participant, clearly.”
Now the Leafs stay up for a four-game highway 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 highway this season.
“Clearly actually powerful take a look at developing by means of all 4,” Tavares mentioned. “I believe take the night time tonight to benefit from the victory, regroup once more tomorrow.
“And like we at all times do, you get equipped and ready for the following problem, which clearly, pretty much as good as any workforce within the league, might be as quick as any within the league in Colorado. So acquired to be enthusiastic about it.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 11, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
