John Tavares and William Nylander got the job done for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they pummelled the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena, scoring two goals apiece. The duo responded big time after the flat effort leading to the embarrassing loss against the Nashville Predators last Saturday night.
Tavares now has 32 goals on the season to go with 65 points in 64 games. It seems Tavares is playing his heart out as he looks to get a new contract next season. In the meantime, he’s looked rejuvenated over the last half dozen games or so.
As for William Nylander, he scored on the Leafs’ only power play opportunity. Nylander’s goal gave Toronto a 2-1 lead, one they would not relinquish. Nylander scored again midway through the second as the Leafs built a 6-1 lead after 40 minutes.
The Leafs cruised the rest of the way, notching a 7-2 win. The Toronto Maple Leafs had to destroy the Flyers in order to send a message to the league and the fanbase. The Leafs cannot afford any more poor efforts against non-playoff teams.
This was a game the Leafs had to win big time, and they did. Now, Toronto sits atop the Atlantic Division. As I’ve mentioned several times before, the Leafs must strive to win the division to avoid the carnage of a first-round series with the Lightning. By winning the division, the carnage would be between the Lightning and Florida Panthers.
Also, the Leafs need to keep pace as the two games against the Florida Panthers on April 2 and 8 will likely determine who gets the top spot in the Atlantic. The Leafs have one more game against the Lightning on April 9, a crucial one in settling the top three spots in the Atlantic.
A good run puts the Leafs firmly in first place. A poor string could drop the Leafs all the way to third. So, there’s no reason why the Leafs should feel like they’re playing out the string. There’s still plenty on the line.
Nylander, McMann hit milestones in Toronto Maple Leafs big win against Flyers
William Nylander and Bobby McMann hit important goal-scoring milestones against the Flyers. First, Nylander’s deuce gave him 40 goals on the season. He’s now scored 40 goals in each of the last three seasons.
For Nylander, hitting the 40-goal plateau with 11 games to play gives him an outside shot at 50 goals on the season. While doable, he would need to get red hot down the stretch. Whether he hits 50 or not, fans will be expecting Nylander to continue scoring, unlike last season when he disappeared over the last 11 games.
Bobby McMann got his 20th of the season on Tuesday night. For McMann, the milestone was a significant one, as it highlights the best season of his career to date. Last year, McMann scored 15 goals in 56 games. So, the expectation this season was that McMann could top the 20-goal mark,
McMann has set career highs across the board, making him one of the most reliable players on the team. Heading into the postseason, McMann could be an X-factor as opponents focus on shutting Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews down.
Moving forward, the Leafs must sweep their upcoming West Coast swing in order to firmly position themselves atop the Atlantic Division. With games against the San Jose Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, there’s no reason why the Leafs shouldn’t win at least two of three on the road.