After the Maple Leafs had a goal by Steven Lorentz disallowed midway through the third period, Nylander made it 3-2 at 15:51. Matthew Knies intercepted Tom Wilson’s pass at the blue line and drove to the net before Nylander tapped in the rebound.

The Caps looked poised to beat the Maple Leafs after losing all three meetings last season before a late third-period comeback by Toronto led to an overtime defeat.

A year ago, it was assumed that the pressure of playing in a contract year easily would roll off William Nylander’s shoulders. That’s how it played out during the first several months of the 2023-24 regular season for the Maple Leafs winger,