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"Something's fishy" - Paul Bissonnette left confused with Maple Leafs' handling of William Nylander injury
Fans and analysts were left scratching their heads when Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander didn't suit up for Game 1 against the Boston Bruins. His absence was attributed to an undisclosed injury.
Speculations swirled around his condition, with many eager for updates on his status. However, things turned unexpectedly when Nylander returned to the ice on Monday for the team's morning skate.
Despite his return, Nylander's participation was limited. Sporting a regular contact practice sweater, he skated as an extra forward and notably refrained from joining power-play drills. This cautious approach fueled further uncertainty about his availability for Game 2.
Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe provided insight after the morning skate. However, he didn't confirm Nylander's status for the upcoming game.
The lack of clarity surrounding Nylander's injury status drew attention from NHL insiders. NHL insider Ryan Whitney expressed bewilderment over Nylander's absence despite his active participation in pre-game activities. In a tweet directed at Paul Bissonnette, Whitney sought answers regarding the situation, reflecting the confusion shared by many.
Bissonnette responded with skepticism, suggesting a deeper mystery behind Nylander's situation. He dismissed the possibility of Nylander being sidelined due to health concerns.
"There’s ZERO," Bissonnette tweeted on X, "and mean ZERO PERCENT CHANCE he’s a health bomb. Somethings fishy. That’s not even him on the ice. It’s a hologram or AI. Also could be a body double. I’m getting to the button of it."
Nylander's recent performance added another layer of complexity to the situation. Despite an impressive regular season, during which he scored 40 goals and tallied 98 points, his production waned toward the end of the schedule. His lackluster performance in the final stretch, characterized by just four assists in 11 games, raised questions about his form heading into the playoffs.
Boston Bruins dominated the Toronto Maple Leafs in William Nylander's absence
In a high-stakes playoff matchup between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Bruins secured a crucial 5-1 victory in the series opener. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy's slip marked a key moment in the game, nearly leading to a goal by Auston Matthews, the NHL's top goal-scorer. However, Matthews hit the post, preserving the Bruins' narrow lead.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said:
“I thought I thought it was 1-1 as soon as he got by Sway. We can’t give Matthews those kind of opportunities. He’s too good a goal-scorer.”
Boston's Jonny Beecher capitalized on his first postseason shot to put the Bruins ahead early. Despite Matthews' close call, goalie Jeremy Swayman's quick reactions prevented a goal, while Brandon Carlo and Jake DeBrusk extended the lead with timely scores. Toronto's efforts, including a goal by David Kampf, fell short as penalties and missed opportunities allowed Boston to dominate.
With Game 2 looming, both teams are strategizing their lineup, with uncertainty over goaltending choices for Boston between Swayman and Linus Ullmark.
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