Toronto Maple Leafs Star Out of the Lineup Against the Washington Capitals

William Nylander will not dress, as he is injured. For the game tonight against the Capitals, due to illness. Nylander is out. Max Domi will also be out of the lineup tonight as a healthy scratch. Nylander is listed day-to-day, and the Maple Leafs are hoping that he will be back against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Nylander has been one of the rare bright spots for the Maple Leafs this season. In the early 2025-26 season, Nylander has tallied 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points.

In their last contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nylander was the Maple Leafs’ most effective forward. He set up the tying goal and scored the overtime winner. With that performance from Nylander, the Leafs were able to capture their second win in their last 9 contest.

What William Nylander Being Injured Means for the Leafs

The Maple Leafs have struggled with injuries in the 2025-26 season, with stars like Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and starting netminder Anthony Stolarz all missing time. In a game where the Maple Leafs are trying to build momentum and recover from a bad start to the season, missing Nylander will be crucial. The Maple Leafs will need players like Matias Maccelli and Easton Cowan, and Nicholas Robertson to step up and provide offence down the lineup. The “Cowboy” Cowan had a strong game against the Blue Jackets, scoring a goal late in the third to tie the game. He will be looking to continue his momentum against the Capitals.

The Maple Leafs line adjustments:

Robertson – Matthews – Knies

McMann – Tavares – Cowan

Macceli – Roy – Joshua

Lorentz – Laughton – Jarnkrok

Joseph Woll will receive the start tonight, and Anthony Stolarz will not travel with the team during this road trip.

What They Need To Do

The Leafs will have a tough game ahead, facing the Capitals. They will need to rely heavily on Joseph Woll to make the big saves when needed. The defence will need to shut down their top players, such as Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, and potential Team Canada member Tom Wilson.

For a team that has struggled on the defensive side of the puck this season, getting back to form may be a difficult task. However, the Maple Leafs proved last year that they can play elite defence when they’re committed to structure, finishing the 2024–25 campaign ranked inside the league’s top five in most major defensive categories. That standard shows the potential is still there, Toronto just needs to rediscover the consistency, discipline, and buy-in that once made them one of the NHL’s toughest teams to break down.

The Maple Leafs still have a chance in tonight’s game, but they will need to play a complete structure game, and Joseph Woll will need to be sharp.