William Nylander scored his 30th goal of the season, giving the Maple Leafs an early lead in the game. He was a key contributor in the win and one of his teammates has taken notice of how supremely talented Nylander is.
However, prior to puck drop, Pacioretty took a moment to praise Nylander's unique abilities and the thrill of watching him play, sharing his insights with the media.
"He is awesome. I love how he sees the game differently than anyone I've played with. That is what makes him so good, and it is also what makes him unique.
I love trying to pick his brain about hockey and why he is so good. I don't think he even knows why he is so good. He has these little things that he works on that no one else works on -- little skating drills that he does before practice that I've never seen before.
It is cool to be around such good players who play really differently from each other."
Nylander has been one of the Maple Leafs' most consistent players this season, with 30 goals and 52 points in 52 games so far.
Beyond his offensive contributions, Nylander has stepped up as a leader for the team, recently taking extra time to interact with fans at the Maple Leafs' outdoor practice at Prince of Wales Park in Mimico, Ontario.
Nylander and the Maple Leafs will look to build on this victory against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, hoping to get on a bit of a roll before the upcoming break. There are 3 games remaining on the docket for the Leafs prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off.