The Toronto Maple Leafs were forced to make quick adjustments on Monday night, minutes before puck drop against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe announced that Nylander, who couldn’t even go on the ice for warmups, was out due to an illness. Therefore, Kyle Clifford draws in, per TSN’s Mark Masters.
Per Keefe, Nylander is dealing with an non-COVID related illness. He did not practice on Sunday due to the illness.
Nylander has scored 26 goals and 38 assists over 68 games in 2021-22, his seventh season in the NHL. He is missing a crucial matchup tonight as the Maple Leafs could end up facing the Bolts in the first round of the postseason in a couple of weeks. This will also be a battle for second place in the Atlantic Division as the Maple Leafs and Lightning are tied in points.
