Leafs cover up Nylander mystery
First casualty of the Stanley Cup playoffs is truth
The Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins appear to be preparing for war.
How do we know that heading into Saturday night’s opener of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series? Well, in addition to their 100-year-old rivalry, truth is already a casualty.
Neither coach lied when it came to talking about lineups for Game 1 at TD Garden, but Toronto’s Sheldon Keefe and Boston’s Jim Montgomery were unwilling — or afraid, for some reason — to deliver the goods on some key players.
All-star forward William Nylander, for example, was surprisingly absent from Leafs practice on Friday. Forward Bobby McMann was also missing, although that was less of a surprise after sitting out two games with a lower-body injury. What did Keefe make of all that? “Both (Nylander) and Bobby McMann stayed off the ice today, both are possibilities for (Game 1),” the coach said. “There’s not going to be any daily injury updates or anything like that. Our guys are available and that’s it.”
Was it an injury or illness with Nylander?
“Like I said, the guys are available and that’s all you’re going to get,” said Keefe.
Montgomery, meanwhile, has a largely healthy lineup but was no more forthcoming when it came to who will start the best-of-seven series in net. Would it be reigning Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark or Jeremy Swayman, who could well win the award this season?
“We have decided; I’m not sharing that with you guys,” said Montgomery. “We’ve got two great goaltenders. Our entire group is very comfortable with either one. Performance is going to dictate a lot of how we move forward.”
It’s that time of year when information — or the lack of it — can be used as a weapon to keep an opponent off balance. But it will also make fans sweat.
Nylander is a key part of the Leafs attack, their second-highest scorer behind Auston Matthews. Nylander was the only Leaf to play all 82 games and set a career high with 97 points. He’s also been a reliable producer in the post-season with 17 goals in 50 games, also second only to Matthews among current Leafs (22 goals since the 2017 playoffs).
“It’s tough to replace Willy,” said forward Calle Järnkrok. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. Hopefully he can play.”
Better news was the return of Järnkrok (hand), who got through his first full practice since the injury, worked out on the first power play in Nylander’s absence and is likely to suit up for the first time since March 14, a span of 16 games.
“Always, first game back is usually pretty tough to get back, your timing and everything,” Järnkrok said. “But if there’s one time you want to do it, it’s these big games, for sure.”
Hulking defenceman Joel Edmundson, who has missed as many games as he’s played since joining the Leafs before the trade deadline, was back practising with Timothy Liljegren, while T.J. Brodie skated as if he’ll be scratched for Game 1.
And forward Max Domi, who missed two games with an undisclosed injury, was back with Matthews and Tyler Bertuzzi.
“One hundred per cent, I’m ready to go,” Domi said of whatever ailed him. “Now the fun starts, so I’m looking forward to it.”
It will be the 74th playoff appearance for the Leafs and 78th for the Bruins. The teams have met 16 times with each winning eight, but the Bruins have won the last six in a row and swept the four-game season series. Both sides said none of that matters. The playoffs are a clean slate. “It’s why you want to be part of the NHL, just to play in these games,” said Montgomery. “So the excitement level is high.”
Said Keefe: “At this time of the year, you’re most excited to compete. First of all, you have to earn your way here, and that’s been a journey and a process for us to get to this position. Sixteen teams are not in that position, and that in itself is an accomplishment. But of course we know what the goal is here, and (Game 1) is a chance to take a step toward that.”
‘‘ We’ve got two great goaltenders. Our entire group is very comfortable with either one. JIM MONTGOMERY BOSTON BRUINS COACH