Maple Leafs’ William Nylander day-to-day, out vs. Red Wings, Easton Cowan re-enters lineup
Easton Cowan will re-enter the lineup in Nylander’s no place, with no other lineup changes.
It’s a tough loss for the Maple Leafs, as Nylander leads the team in scoring with with 14 goals and 41 points in 33 games. Toronto’s star winger left Saturday’s game shortly after this incident:
Nylander hasn’t been on the bench for some time
this seems to be the issue
Nylander was mired in a month-long scoring slump, before exploding against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 23 with a two-goal, four-point performance.
Cowan is now afforded another chance to remain in the lineup, and he’s been one of the Leafs’ most impactful players during his rookie season. The 20-year-old has posted four goals and 11 points in 26 games. Cowan was rendered a healthy scratch for the Maple Leafs’ past three games, a decision that drew criticism from fans and analysts alike.
“The conversations with him (have been) we won last game, just be patient,” Berube said of Cowan, prior to Saturday’s game. “But we definitely do not want him sitting out too long. That’s not good for his growth. I think he helps us. I think he’s a good player and he’s only gonna get better.”
Toronto will look to continue its winning streak, against an Atlantic-leading Detroit side, powered by star defenceman Moritz Seider.