In the middle of contract negotiations, William Nylander is performing at his best.
He scored twice and collected an assist in the Maple Leafs’ 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, bringing his total to eight points in the last five games. The Leafs extended their winning streak to three in a row, sweeping their trip through California.
Nylander and the Leafs are close to an eight-year deal, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, reportedly worth around $11.5 million (U.S.) annually. His two goals in the third period Saturday gave him 54 points on the year. He began the night sixth in league scoring.
Toronto got on the board with a five-on-three power play late in the first period. Mitch Marner exchanged the puck with Morgan Rielly, then rifled it under Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood’s right arm. Nylander earned an assist on the goal.
Toronto had more chances. The Leafs outshot San Jose 18-3 in the first period and, nine minutes in, Auston Matthews took a pass from Marner and shot the puck off the bar. Later, with five minutes left in the period, Nylander ripped a shot off the post.
But the Leafs didn’t score again until there were 43 seconds left in the second period, when centre Calle Järnkrok snuck the puck past Blackwood to make it 2-0. Nylander scored twice around a Sharks goal from centre Mikael Granlund in the final period.
The Granlund goal ended the hopes of a second shutout in three games for Toronto goalie Martin Jones, who was starting his fourth straight game.
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With Ilya Samsonov in the AHL and Joseph Woll still sidelined with a high ankle sprain, Jones has found success. He turned aside 23 of 24 shots Saturday and has stropped 81 of the last 83 shots he has faces.
Saturday's game was another homecoming for the 33-year-old, who spent six years with the Sharks from 2015 to 2021.
Jones’ success and the Leafs’ schedule of two off days on both sides of Saturday’s game have kept rookie Dennis Hildeby on the bench.
“Jonesy’s doing really well for us,” Keefe said Friday. “We are eager to give Hildeby his chance and he’s getting better …
"Despite that, I think Jones is in a good place right now and the schedule, I think, is in our favour as it relates to keeping him going.”
Saturday was also a homecoming for centre Noah Gregor, drafted by the Sharks in 2016.
The win continued the momentum the Leafs built Wednesday, when they beat the Anaheim Ducks in overtime. Sheldon Keefe lauded Toronto’s ability to bounce back.
“If there’s ever a time when you start to deviate or cheat or get frustrated, it would be a night like (Wednesday when Ducks goaltender Lukás Dostál stopped 55 shots),” Keefe said. “But the guys stayed with it and then you get rewarded for it.”
Saturday’s game was the first in a back-to-back set with the Sharks, who visit Toronto on Tuesday.
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