Nylander’s “Super Special” Hat Trick Brings Leafs 6-3 Win Over Calgary
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By Doug Hirdle
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Summary:
- William Nylander scored his second NHL hat-trick in Calgary, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-3 win over the Flames.
- His three-goal night brought his season total to 33, trailing only Leon Draisaitl in the NHL goal-scoring race.
- Nylander extended his hot streak to nine goals in eight games.
Eight years after scoring his first NHL hat-trick, William Nylander delivered his second on Tuesday night, this time in a city with deep personal significance.
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward put on a show in Calgary, where his father, Michael, once played, leading his team to a 6-3 victory over the Flames.
Nylander: “It’s Super Special”
Nylander’s three-goal performance pushed his season tally to 33, trailing only Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl (37) in the NHL goal-scoring race.
It also extended his hot streak to nine goals in eight games.
Obviously it’s super special, Born here and scoring my second career hat trick eight years after my first one is pretty wild.
His first hat trick came in Boston, but this one had a homecoming feel. The Scotiabank Saddledome crowd leaned heavily in Toronto’s favor, with traveling Leafs fans turning the arena into a sea of blue.
Their enthusiasm peaked when Nylander completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal, sending caps cascading onto the ice.
We have a huge following, the best fans in the league, So the support we get wherever we play is tremendous. To see those hats come down is special.
That final goal, with 44 seconds left, was a result of Nylander’s persistence. He stripped MacKenzie Weegar of the puck at the Leafs’ blue line and raced down the ice to seal the win.
Coach Beruge: “He’s Got a Lethal Shot”
Leafs coach Craig Berube didn’t miss the chance to speak highly of Nylander, praising his talent and emphasizing both his skill and determination.
He’s got a lethal shot, we all know that. He can hang onto pucks, That last goal was a hard puck battle. Good job by him with the goalie out. Sealed the game.
Nylander’s offensive prowess was evident all night. His first goal, a power-play marker early in the second period, beat rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf on the blocker side.
Later, he capitalized on an odd-man rush to make it 4-2, picking the glove side cleanly.
Goaltender Joseph Woll, who stopped 23 shots in the win, wasn’t surprised.
I was just laughing as yesterday in practice, he scored on me like every time he shot on me. So as soon as he got the puck on the 2-on-1, there’s no question he was going to score.
Bobby McMann, who is currently in his first full NHL season, has taken his time to study Nylander’s technique up close. He is especially interested in how he “baits the goalie” and the “timing of when he releases the puck”, techniques he tries to imitate during his own play.
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