William Nylander: « Will be a long series »

Florida has now won two straight home games and with the score 2-2 in the best of seven, the next match awaits in the quarterfinals in Canada.

– We knew it would not be easy. We meet the reigning Stanley Cup champions, says Toronto’s team captain Auston Matthews.

Florida largely dominated the first two periods and led a bit into the middle act of the shot statistics by 21–5.

– We started on the heels with many boxplay, says William Nylander to journalists after the match.

Toronto had four expulsions during the first period. When Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Stanley Cup champion with Florida last year-sat in the deportation booth, Carter Verhaeghe was able to send in the lead goal.

– We spent almost half the match in the deportation booth. We need to be more disciplined there, says Matthews.

Florida’s goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky accounted for 23 rescues when he kept zero, but torontal goalkeeper Joseph Woll was listed for 35 rescues.

– He made a couple of really fantastic rescues and stayed in the match, says William Nylander.

It took until 12.09 of the third period before Sam Bennett set Florida’s victory to 2-0.

After the night’s 0-2 loss William Nylander remains at 15 points (6 goals-9 assists) and is four in the playoffs.

It is topped by Finnish Mikko Rantanen, who continues to pour points for his Dallas. When the Texas club via 5-2 at home against Winnipeg took the lead in the quarterfinals series by 2-1, Rantanen accounted for a goal and two forwards. He is up to 18 points, including nine goals, at ten playoffs.

– He is a fantastic player and he is playing at a really high level right now. It’s fantastic to have him in his team, says compatriot Mikael Granlund.

In the night’s match came the decision in the third period. At the score 2-2, Dallas set three straight goals for victory with 5-2.