Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Nylander, Woll & Depth Scoring

If you were looking for signs of life, structure, and maybe even a little swagger, Saturday night had all of it. The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t just beat the Vancouver Canucks — they buried them early and never let the game breathe. A 5–0 win, a calm building, and a night where things looked settled. That’s been rare enough lately to notice.

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Nylander’s return gave the night a bit of shape, Woll did what steady goalies tend to do when things are under control, and the Maple Leafs reminded everyone how quickly a shaky team can come undone.

Quick Hit One: William Nylander Picks Up Where He Left Off

William Nylander missed six games with an injury and came back with a goal and two assists. He didn’t just score — he drove play. The play with Matthews on the opening goal felt like something they’ve done a hundred times. And when Nylander walked around Pettersson late in the first and went backhand, there wasn’t much drama to it. Just speed, a little misdirection, and a quick finish.

The pass to Tavares in the second might’ve been the easiest thing to miss all night. No flash. No noise. Just a read Nylander made before anyone else did. That’s how he controls games now — without looking like he’s trying to.

Quick Hit Two: Joseph Woll and the Value of Calmness

Joseph Woll’s second shutout of the season won’t make a highlight reel, and that’s kind of the point. He just did his job calmly. That job was to stop all 29 shots and never give Vancouver anything to grab onto while the game was still within reach. Like his last few starts, he didn’t scramble. His positioning and patience were solid.

Given how often this team has chased answers in net, a night like this feels different. Easy. Forgettable in a good way.

Quick Hit Three: The Maple Leafs’ Depth Scoring Turned the Game Into a Rout

Once the Maple Leafs got ahead, the game just got easier. Max Domi’s partial breakaway goal was a reward for pace. Maccelli’s opening goal came from being in the right spot. Nick Robertson’s late power-play marker was a reminder that opportunity still exists down the lineup if players stay engaged.

The Maple Leafs have now put up seven straight home wins. All four lines are contributing and look good. Each line also seems to have a task, and when they do their jobs, the roles make sense, and the game plan holds from puck drop to final horn.

The Canucks Looked Like a Team Out of Answers

After Thatcher Demko gave up three goals on six shots, he was pulled before the first period ended. Early reports suggest it was injury-related.

The Canucks didn’t lose this game quickly; they lost it as their confidence disappeared. When Lankinen came in, the damage was done. Toronto moved the puck, Vancouver chased, and the gap between them felt wider than it looks on paper.

Related: Up, Down, Between: Year in the Life of Maple Leafs Jacob Quillan