Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander will not play in Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals due to illness.
Nylander was granted a maintenance day on Thursday and did not participate in practice. The illness is not related to the issue that Nylander required maintenance for on Thursday. Nylander leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 11 goals and 31 points in 20 games, notching the overtime winner in Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Dakota Joshua will re-enter the lineup as a result. Joshua was a healthy scratch for Wednesday’s game and was projected to miss a second consecutive contest, prior to Nylander’s illness. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube expanded on what he wants to see out of Joshua following Thursday’s practice.
“Getting to his identity,” Berube said. “He is a big guy. He has to be a physical and hard player to play against. He is going to make and score his goals around the net, right? A little more puck touches in the offensive zone from the forecheck, and then getting to the net front and winning those battles there and tipping pucks. He has good hand-eye. He has the capability of putting the puck in the net.”
Joshua was placed on a line alongside Nicolas Roy and Bobby McMann during Thursday’s practice.
Joseph Woll will make his sixth consecutive start. Woll was outstanding during Wednesday’s victory and was the primary reason why the Maple Leafs secured two points. The 27-year-old is off to a 2-2-1 start with a .921 save percentage. Dennis Hildeby will operate as Woll’s backup on Friday, and will almost certainly start Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Capitals
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Nick Robertson
Max Domi-John Tavares-Easton Cowan
Dakota Joshua-Nicolas Roy-Bobby McMann
Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok
Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe
Dakota Mermis-Troy Stecher
Joseph Woll (confirmed starter)
Dennis Hildeby
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