With Matthews out, keeping Nylander’s scoring streak vital for Leafs

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Auston Matthews likely won’t repeat as the Rocket Richard Trophy winner, but how about him passing it off to another Maple Leaf? 

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The succession of a teammate as goal leader has only happened in eight of the National Hockey League’s 106 seasons, almost all during the firewagon era of the Montreal Canadiens. But Toronto? 

Before Matthews won the Richard three of the past four years, with 69 goals last season, only six Leafs/St. Patricks ever held the title, none since Gaye Stewart netted 37 in 50 games in ‘46-47. Franchise greats Babe Dye and Charlie Conacher often repeated as goal leaders but were never followed by a teammate. 

Which brings us to William Nylander’s hot streak, which continued Saturday in the first game of what could be another lengthy Matthews’ absence. That gave Nylander five in the past three starts, eight this month and 17 since Halloween. His total of 23 was one behind Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl before the Oilers hosted the Ottawa Senators on Sunday evening. 

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“I know Leon had 23 (before adding another Saturday against San Jose),” Nylander said. “But that’s not what I’m thinking about.” 

Meaning, were Nylander to match or exceed 40 goals, his career high of the past two seasons, it’s more about how that tops up the missing offence of Matthews and helps the Leafs make a first-place push in the new year. 

Matthews is not expected to play in Monday’s 2 p.m. matinee against the Winnipeg Jets at Scotiabank Arena. Head coach Craig Berube hinted it’s best the Leafs use the coming three-day Christmas break to take another assessment of the captain’s upper-body injury that has already held him out of 10 games. 

Saturday’s 6-3 loss to the Islanders was a result that proved the Leafs can’t keep living on their laurels when Matthews is out, even if their record is an impressive 42-22-2 whenever he’s missing, 7-3 this season. They need another game-breaker when clubs such as the Islanders get off to an early lead and apply the choke hold. 

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Nylander’s 21 minutes on Saturday, with seven shots on net, both club highs for forwards was duly noted. He kept his feet moving all night and should have drawn at least one penalty in a game that strangely had none called. 

“He’s been a good player for a long time hasn’t he?” Berube said of observing him from afar and now the past three months as his coach. “I thought he was skating (hard) early in the game, had good jump, wants the puck, wants to make things happen. He’s motivated.” 

Nylander’s vision spotted a narrow lane in the slot to get Toronto on the board, with a backhand goal of all things, his second goal more unconventional for him, going to the net behind ad hoc centre David Kampf. 

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Berube can employ Nylander on a loaded line with Matthews and Mitch Marner and when the roster is healthy, as a complement to physical forces John Tavares and Max Pacioretty. Nylander has seven power play goals of the team’s 20 tallies. 

His six-game points streak included Saturday’s fifth multi-goal effort of the year. 

“It’s not just Willy, you need everybody to step up,” Berube said of plugging the Matthews’ hole. 

While it could be Matthews is eventually advised to sit out February’s 4 Nations Faceoff if there is health concern for the playoffs, Nylander is looking forward to the tournament for Team Sweden. While not saying it yet, it would be exciting to pursue the magical 50 and keep himself in the Rocket conversation beyond February. 

But it’s a crowded launch pad, Draisaitl with Connor McDavid on his team, Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov one behind Nylander, Sam Reinhart of Florida at 20 and four others at 18 or higher as of Sunday afternoon. 

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby 

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