The Maple Leafs held a practice at Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Leafs winger William Nylander<\/a> has gone four straight games without a point, and Craig Berube<\/a> has seen enough. The coach demoted the team\u2019s leading scorer to the third line at Wednesday\u2019s practice with Nylander skating alongside Nicolas Roy<\/a> and Dakota Joshua<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cIf I had to look at one thing, I would say he\u2019s got to get involved more, engage more in the game, work his way through it,\u201d Berube said. <\/p>\n Berube met with Nylander, who usually plays on the second line beside John Tavares<\/a>, on Wednesday to convey that message. <\/p>\n \u201cWork your way through it,\u201d the coach stressed. \u201cAll players go through it at some point, but I think if he just works his way through it, he\u2019ll get out of it quicker.\u201d<\/p>\n Prior to this dry spell, Nylander had only been held without a point in two of 21 games. <\/p>\n The last time Nylander went four regular-season games without hitting the scoresheet was early January, so it\u2019s been almost a calendar year since a slump like this. <\/p>\n Nylander has also been held without a shot twice in this four-game run, including on Monday. The smooth-skating Swede, who failed to convert on a shootout attempt during Saturday\u2019s loss to the Montreal Canadiens<\/a>, seems to be missing his usual swagger. <\/p>\n \u201cI feel like there are chances where I should maybe be shooting the puck, you know, passing it, whatever,\u201d Nylander said. \u201cSo, I need to [have] a little bit more hunger to attack the net and get the puck there. I think that\u2019s probably one of the aspects that\u2019s missing.\u201d<\/p>\n Nylander, who has racked up 32 points in 25 games, understands why Berube feels a line change is in order. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s good,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we needed to try something new. I mean, I think our line has not [had] so many good looks the past few games.\u201d<\/p>\n The spot beside Roy and Joshua opened up because the usual third-line winger, Bobby McMann<\/a>, is suspended for one game. <\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve been playing great,\u201d Nylander said of Roy and Joshua. \u201cAnd, you know, Bobby\u2019s gone for a game, so let\u2019s give it a try.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Tavares, Nylander, [Easton] Cowan line has kind of fallen off for me a bit, dried up a little bit, so I made a switch there just to give him a different look,\u201d Berube said. <\/p>\n Nylander hasn\u2019t gone more than four games without a point since February 2021, when he experienced a six-game lull during the Canadian Division year. <\/p>\n Nick Robertson, who was a healthy scratch on Monday, took Nylander\u2019s spot beside Tavares and Cowan at practice. Berube feels Robertson has lacked his usual tenacity of late. <\/p>\n \u201cGetting in on a forecheck, disrupting things, being physical, using his speed, all those types of things I felt dropped off,\u201d the coach said. \u201cI think if he just brings that, good things will happen for him.\u201d<\/p>\n Demoted to Leafs’ third line, slumping Nylander needs ‘a little bit more hunger’ William Nylander skated on the third line alongside Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy on Wednesday and head coach Craig Berube believes his winger needs to get more involved and engaged in the game in order to work his way through this stretch. Nylander admits that the need was there to try something new. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n McMann was suspended one game for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning<\/a> forward Oliver Bjorkstrand<\/a> on Monday. The Leafs winger initially raised his stick to avoid contact with a linesman before being shoved by Bjorkstrand and bringing his stick down on the head of the Lightning forward. <\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t much,\u201d Berube said. \u201cI know you\u2019ve got to be in control of your stick, but I don\u2019t think it\u2019s worth the suspension.\u201d<\/p>\n The Department of Player Safety released a video on Tuesday breaking down their view of the play.<\/p>\n \u201cMcMann brings the raised stick downwards towards Bjorkstrand from a dangerous height, striking him in the head with sufficient force to merit supplemental discipline. This is high sticking. It is important to note that this is not the typical motion of a player merely bringing a raised stick down to the ice and accidentally making contact with an opponent. This is also not a situation where a player simply loses control of his stick or where an off-balance player is careless in an attempt to steady himself. McMann is in full control of both his stick and his own body at all times during this play, and simply must display more control to ensure his stick does not directly strike his opponent\u2019s head in his situation.\u201d<\/p>\n The McMann high stick occurred after Leafs defenceman Dakota Mermis<\/a> was injured via a knee-on-knee hit by Gage Goncalves<\/a>, who was ejected from the game. but did not receive supplemental discipline. <\/p>\n \u201cWe lose a guy for probably a month at least,\u201d Berube said. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing that I\u2019ve heard [from the Department of Player Safety].\u201d<\/p>\n Berube upset with McMann suspension, lack of punishment for Mermis hit Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube shared his reaction to Bobby McMann’s one-game suspension for high-sticking Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand. Berube also spoke about what he wants to see from Nick Robertson and revealed Dakota Mermis will be out for about a month. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n The Leafs placed Mermis on injured reserve on Wednesday and called up Henry Thrun<\/a> from the American Hockey League. Thrun skated on the third pair beside Simon Benoit<\/a> at practice and is projected to make his Leafs debut against his old team, the San Jose Sharks<\/a>, on Thursday. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a good puck mover and has offensive abilities,\u201d Berube said. \u201cThe one good thing, he\u2019s been playing the right side [as a lefty] down there so if he does play tomorrow, he\u2019ll be on the right side.\u201d<\/p>\n Thrun, who was acquired from the Sharks in exchange for Ryan Reaves<\/a> in the summer, has produced nine points in 19 games with the Toronto Marlies. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Right-shot defenceman Chris Tanev<\/a> participated in his first practice with the team since being stretchered off the ice with an upper-body injury on Nov. 1 in Philadelphia. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s an ultimate professional, you know, taking care of his body and putting in the work to get better and be at the point where he is today,\u201d Nylander said. \u201cSo, you know, just hope everything comes back good.\u201d<\/p>\n Tanev also joined teammates for a pre-game skate at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday and Monday as the organization awaits clarity on his status moving forward. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s getting evaluated today, so I\u2019ll know more after today,\u201d Berube said. <\/p>\n Tanev has worn a red no-contact sweater during all his skates with teammates. <\/p>\n ‘Ultimate professional’: Tanev returns to Leafs practice; update on status coming soon Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev returned to practice on Wednesday but was wearing a red non-contact jersey. Head coach Craig Berube said Tanev was still going to be evaluated so there wasn’t much of an update on when he could possibly return. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Joseph Woll<\/a> hit the ice before practice for a 20-minute session with goalie coach Curtis Sanford<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cHe felt good today, talking to him after he came off,\u201d Berube said.<\/p>\n The coach suggested that Woll, who sustained a lower-body injury last Thursday during a game in Raleigh, may be ready to return as early as Saturday when the Leafs host Connor McDavid<\/a> and the Edmonton Oilers<\/a>. <\/p>\n Defenceman Morgan Rielly<\/a> missed practice due to an illness, but is expected to play on Thursday, per Berube. <\/p>\n Leafs Ice Chips: Rielly dealing with illness; Woll back on the ice Before the Maple Leafs’ main practice session, Joseph Woll took to the ice for the first time since sustaining an injury last Thursday. TSN’s Mark Masters has more on a possible timeline for the netminder to return and Henry Thrun getting called up in Dakota Mermis’ absence. <\/p>\n There are<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Considering the way Dennis Hildeby<\/a> is playing, there\u2019s no need to rush Woll right now. The rookie goalie posted the first shutout of his career on Monday while pushing his season save percentage to .936 in nine games (five starts).<\/p>\n Hildeby will gift the game puck from the clean sheet against the Lightning to his father when the family visits during Christmas. Hildeby\u2019s dad collects all his milestone pucks (first wins and first shutouts). There are six overall, with two from the Swedish Hockey League, two from the AHL, and now two from the NHL. <\/p>\n What was it like catching up with his parents on Tuesday via FaceTime?<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of smiles,\u201d a beaming Hildeby said. <\/p>\n The pressure of suddenly being the go-to goalie in the centre of the hockey universe doesn\u2019t seem to bother the 24-year-old Swede. <\/p>\n \u201cYou just got to try and enjoy it,\u201d Hildeby said. \u201cBe honest with yourself. It\u2019s obviously a little more or a little different than playing in the AHL, but it\u2019s my childhood dream here and you just got to enjoy every moment. It\u2019s a privilege being here.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s the biggest difference in the NHL? <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a hard question,\u201d said Hildeby, who posted an .878 save percentage in his first six NHL games last season. \u201cI mean, it\u2019s a little quicker. Everything you do, you got to be a little more crisp and fast.\u201d <\/p>\n The 6-foot-7 Hildeby, who is nicknamed \u201cBeast,\u201d moves well for his size. What do teammates see when they shoot on him in practice? <\/p>\n \u201cNot much,\u201d said Nylander with a grin. \u201cHe\u2019s huge in there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe covers up a lot of space in the net,\u201d said centre Auston Matthews<\/a>. \u201cAnd I find he\u2019s got really good reads as well too. He reacts quickly and tries to keep everything in front of him. He\u2019s really solid.\u201d<\/p>\n Leafs rookie Hildeby on secret to handling pressure: ‘Be honest with yourself’ Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby has done well during his time with the team this season and he spoke about how he deals with the pressure while doing his best to enjoy every moment. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n The second line is struggling right now, but Toronto\u2019s top line seems to be picking up some momentum. Matthews matched a season high by landing eight shots on net in Monday\u2019s win. The Leafs captain scored an empty-net goal at the buzzer, but also left the game wanting more. <\/p>\n \u201cI just got to put the puck in the net,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cGetting all the opportunities, I just got to bear down and find the openings. But I\u2019m really happy with where our game\u2019s been trending, especially since that long road trip.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs are 5-1-1 since Matthews returned from a lower-body injury on Nov. 26.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want that positive momentum to keep flowing and make sure that we\u2019re continuing to take care of that defensive zone, that structure, because I think that\u2019s kind of what\u2019s leading to us having the puck a little bit more,\u201d Matthews said. <\/p>\n