Best Leafs goals of 2024-25: William Nylander bats puck out of the air to beat Ducks’ Dostal

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander often makes the game look easy, especially when he’s creating in the offensive zone. Nylander was a constant force for the Maple Leafs throughout the 2024-25 campaign, where he finished second in the NHL with 45 goals. We’re going through the best goals of the Leafs season, where Nylander will be a constant on the list. Yesterday, we revisited Nylander going coast-to-coast against the Montreal Canadiens. This time, we’re revisiting a goal that required far less skating, where Nylander showed off his superior hand-eye coordination.

During a December 12 game against the Anaheim Ducks, Nylander was in excellent form, as the Maple Leafs were fighting off a wave of injuries to remain competitive in the Atlantic Division. Holding a 1-0 lead against the Ducks in the first period, Nylander breezed through the neutral zone and while commanding the attention of four Ducks’ defenders, dropped the puck back to Max Pacioretty while continuing his drive to the net. Pacioretty sent the puck back to Nylander at the front of the net, who tried to tip the pass into the net. It didn’t get enough velocity to get towards the net, floating into the air and Nylander batted the puck promptly past Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal for one of the best goals of the Leafs’ season.

“Willy was really good for me tonight,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game. “All around, he did a lot of good things, not just the opportunities and the chances he gets, which was a lot, and I know he is not happy about not putting more in the net. But he worked. He did a lot of good things and made strong plays. His puck battles were high — he won a lot of battles for the puck, which is important.”

It was just another routine night for Nylander, but his presence and ability to generate chances unlocked one of Pacioretty’s best games of the season. It was a terrific season from Nylander, who also emerged as the team’s best player during the playoffs, and when he’s at his best, few players can make professional hockey seem like an easier pursuit.