Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander had a night to remember in Calgary on Thursday, as he scored a hat trick to lead his team to a 6-3 victory over the Flames.
In a post-game interview, Nylander described the experience as “super special” and expressed his gratitude for the support from his teammates and coaches.
The 24-year-old Swede opened the scoring for the Leafs in the first period, and then added two more goals in the second period to complete his hat trick. This was Nylander’s first hat trick of the season and the second of his career.
Nylander’s performance was crucial in securing the win for the Leafs, who are currently in a tight race for a playoff spot in the North Division.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe praised Nylander’s performance, stating that he was “really happy” for the forward and that his hard work and dedication paid off.
Nylander’s teammates also had high praise for him, with captain John Tavares calling his hat trick “impressive” and defenseman Morgan Rielly stating that it was “fun to watch.”
This was not the first time Nylander has had a strong performance in Calgary. In 2019, he scored a goal and added two assists in a 4-2 win over the Flames.
With this hat trick, Nylander now has 14 goals and 12 assists in 33 games this season, making him one of the top scorers on the Leafs.
The Leafs will look to continue their winning streak as they face the Flames again on Saturday in the second game of their three-game series.
