That’s how it played out during the first several months of the 2023-24 regular season for the Maple Leafs winger, as Nylander was leading the team in scoring with 54 points in 37 games when he signed an eight-year extension on Jan. 8. By the time the season ended, Nylander set a career-high with 98 points and tied his career-high with 40 goals.

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.

Mitch Marner tied it in the final minute of the third period, John Tavares scored the overtime winner and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Washington Capitals 4-3 on Wednesday night.