William Nylander etched his name in Toronto Maple Leafs history by scoring his 15th career overtime goal, breaking the franchise record and securing a 2-1 comeback victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday night. His dramatic wrist shot with 20 seconds left in overtime clinched the win and moved him past Auston Matthews and Mats Sundin for the most OT goals in team annals.
Nylander’s record-setting moment unfolded when he received a pass from defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in the left face-off circle, advanced into the slot, and fired a precise shot past Columbus goaltender Jet Greaves. The goal not only highlighted Nylander’s clutch abilities but also capped a resilient effort from the Maple Leafs, who had struggled with only one win in their previous eight games. Nylander expressed humility after the game, noting that Matthews could have scored as well, emphasizing the team’s shared opportunities in overtime situations.
Earlier in the contest, the Blue Jackets had taken a 1-0 lead in the third period on a goal by Zach Werenski, his eighth of the season. However, Toronto responded with a tying goal from rookie Easton Cowan at 16:43, assisted by Nylander. Cowan’s sharp-angled shot from the right side beat Greaves over the shoulder, setting the stage for the overtime drama and demonstrating the Maple Leafs’ ability to rally under pressure.
Goaltender Joseph Woll played a pivotal role in the victory, making 35 saves to keep Toronto competitive throughout the game. Woll described the win as “huge” and emphasized the team’s adherence to their game plan, grinding out a crucial road victory. The Maple Leafs’ resilience was further evidenced by their seventh comeback win of the season, ranking among the league leaders in that category.
Several key players returned from injury for Toronto, including star center Auston Matthews, who had missed five games with a lower-body injury. Matthews logged over 24 minutes of ice time and reported feeling more comfortable as the game progressed. Additionally, Nicolas Roy and Matthew Knies rejoined the lineup, with Knies contributing an assist on the game-winning goal, bolstering the team’s depth and performance.
For Columbus, the loss extended their winless streak to three games, with two of those defeats involving blown third-period leads. Despite outshooting Toronto 36-24 and having three power-play opportunities in the first period, they failed to capitalize. Werenski’s goal was initially overturned due to a successful offside challenge by Toronto, adding to the Blue Jackets’ frustrations and highlighting their struggles to close out games.
The record-setting achievement underscores Nylander’s importance to the Maple Leafs and solidifies his legacy as a clutch performer. With this win, Toronto improves to 10-10-3 and aims to build momentum as they continue a six-game road trip, facing the Washington Capitals next. Columbus, now 11-9-4, will host the Pittsburgh Penguins, seeking to end their slide and regain footing in the competitive Metropolitan Division.
