3 Toronto Maple Leafs players who impressed in 6-3 win over Buffalo Sabres feat. William Nylander

Modified Dec 21, 2024 04:38 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs cruised to a 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday at KeyBank Center. With the win, the Leafs solidified their position atop the Atlantic Division, tying the Florida Panthers for first place, while holding a game in hand.

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While the Leafs played a solid, all-around game, three players stood out against the Sabres.

Here’s a closer look at three Toronto Maple Leafs players who impressed in their win against the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.

3 Toronto Maple Leafs players who impressed against Buffalo Sabres

#3. Nick Robertson

Nick Robertson has been in the spotlight all season. While he was off to a slow start this season, Robertson has been heating up over the last couple of games. He registered a goal and an assist against the Sabres, looking increasingly confident.

In particular, he notched his two points in a little over 11 minutes of ice time, meaning he has now registered two points in three straight games. Robertson looked great on the Leafs’ third line alongside Bobby McMann and Max Domi.

#2. Matt Murray

Friday night’s game marked the return of Matt Murray to NHL ice. Murray hadn’t played in the NHL since April of 2023. He missed the entire season last year due to a hip injury and recovery from surgery.

Nevertheless, he looked solid in his return. He stopped 24 shots to earn his first win. While he wasn’t overly tested, Murray provided the Maple Leafs with the confidence in knowing they had a reliable netminder in the crease.

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Murray didn’t look out of place. He seemed positionally sound and didn’t struggle to move around the crease. It was encouraging for fans to see Murray playing well as it signals that his injury woes are behind him.

#1. William Nylander

William Nylander continues to have a strong season. He scored his 21st of the season while adding two assists on the night.

Most importantly, Nylander has grown into a team leader that produces offensively when most needed. His empty-netter was an important one as the Sabres pushed to tie the game.

However, Nylander defended well during the 6-on-5 situation, taking the puck up the ice and firing a shot into the open cage.

Nylander also assisted on Auston Matthews’ power play goal in the first period, showing that he can also be dangerous with the man advantage.

It’s worth pointing out that Mitch Marner quietly had two assists on the night. It seems that Matthews, Marner and Nylander are all heating up at the same time. That situation bodes well for the Toronto Maple Leafs as they continue to roll atop the Atlantic Division.

The club will be back on the ice when it hosts the New York Islanders at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.