Maple Leafs Official Lineup vs Rangers Confirmed Ahead of Puck Drop: William Nylander Is In

According to Leafs reporters, William Nylander was not a participant for Toronto at practice, with Steven Lorentz, who missed the Leafs last game against Nashville due to injury, slotting in at right wing beside Matias Maccelli and John Tavares.

According to Craig Berube, William Nylander is active tonight, with Lorentz not yet being put in the lineup while the Leafs lines are working.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are sticking with their lineup from last game, one that Craig Berube has described as a winner.

Forwards
Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Easton Cowan
Matias Maccelli - John Tavares - Steven Lorentz*
Bobby McMann - Max Domi - Nick Robertson
Dakota Joshua - Nicolas Roy - Calle Jarnkrok
Samuel Blais

Defense
Morgan Rielly - Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe - Chris Tanev
Simon Benoit - Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Philippe Myers

* William Nylander expected to play

It was unknown why Nylander was absent, but known he will play tonight for the Leafs against New York, in his place at practice on the second line is Steven Lorentz, who returns from an injury suffered against the Detroit Red Wings.

Nylander, 29, has eight goals, 14 assists, and 22 points in 24 career games vs the Rangers in his career.

Nylander will still play tonight for Toronto, with Lorentz also participating as an extra skater, signaling him as a placeholder for Tavares in practice.

With Nylander's absence, Easton Cowan is on the Leafs power play. It's likely that Nylander will play in that position if healthy, but was a first look at the rookie at the spot.

The Leafs are second in the NHL with 17 goals so far in the season, currently with a 2-2-0 record in four games.

Toronto has had a more balanced scoring throughout their lineup and will be hoping their depth forwards can contribute tonight.

The Rangers are coming into tonight with a 2-3-0 record, looking for more goalscoring with just 10, despite leading the league in shot attempts, but currently tied for second in goals allowed with seven.

New York will need to get the offense going to beat a Leafs team that has defined their start with scoring.

New York has not scored in their last two games, despite outshooting their opponents on both occasions.

The Leafs had seven goals against Nashville despite being outshot by the Predators, 30-28.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a 2-1-0 record last season against the Rangers.

Anthony Stolarz, tonight's starter, appeared in all three games last season against New York. Stolarz is 3-3-0 all time vs the Rangers in net, with a 2.41 GAA and a .926 SV%.

On the other side of the net, Igor Shesterkin has a 6-4-2 record in 12 games for the Rangers against the Maple Leafs in his career with a 2.67 GAA and a .914 SV%.

The game will commence at 7:00 p.m. on TSN4, the Leafs playing at home at Scotiabank Arena.