Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: Tough luck loss to Sharks
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Hildeby made 29 saves in a 3-2 overtime loss to San Jose on Thursday.
Hildeby made several great saves, including stoning Ty Dellandrea on a first period penalty shot to keep the game scoreless. And he did his best in the third when the Sharks outshot the Maple Leafs 11-5, but John Klingberg notched the tying goal at 18:35 with the extra attacker on the ice. Hildeby is 1-0-2 in three starts over the last six days, including one by shutout and with just four goals allowed in that span.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: First points in five
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Nylander had two assists Thursday in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Sharks.
He had been held without a point in each of his past four games. Overall, Nylander has 11 goals, 23 assists and 56 shots in 26 games thus far. It's nice to see Willie off the schneid.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Pace finally quickening
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Matthews scored a power-play goal in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Sharks.
Matthews made it 2-0 at 14:32 of the second period when he one-timed a cross-ice pass from William Nylander below the right circle. It ended a streak of 0-for-12 and 2-for-28 for the Maple Leafs with the man advantage. Matthews has a goal in each of his last two games and three in his last four (20 shots). He's been held off the scoresheet just once in his last seven games (four goals, three assists; 31 shots).
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Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Needs further evaluation
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Ekman-Larsson sustained a lower-body injury versus the Sharks on Thursday and will need further evaluation to determine how long he'll be out, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
Ekman-Larsson needed help off the ice after the injury, which doesn't bode well for his availability versus the Oilers on Saturday. The 34-year-old defenseman's status won't be updated until his injury has been fully evaluated. Philippe Myers will likely play if Ekman-Larsson misses time.
Rielly (illness) will play Thursday versus San Jose, according to Dave McCarthy of NHL.com.
Rielly was questionable after missing Wednesday's practice, but he won't miss a game due to the illness. The 31-year-old is expected to serve on the top pairing alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson versus the Sharks. Rielly should also feature on the top power-play unit.
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Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: First goalie off
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Hildeby was the first goalie off during Thursday's morning skate, Mark Masters of TSN reports, indicating that he'll draw the home start against the Sharks.
Hildeby picked up his first career shutout during Monday's win over the Lightning, and he'll tend the twine for a third consecutive matchup Thursday. The 24-year-old has been sharp over his last five appearances (three starts), going 2-0-1 with a 0.79 GAA and .973 save percentage.
Rielly (illness) won't participate in Wednesday's practice.
Rielly has five goals and 22 points in 28 outings in 2025-26. It's unclear if he'll be an option to play against San Jose on Thursday. If Rielly is out, he would join fellow defensemen Brandon Carlo (lower body), Dakota Mermis (lower body) and Chris Tanev (upper body) on the shelf. The Maple Leafs recalled Henry Thrun from AHL Toronto on Wednesday after Mermis sustained an injury in Monday's 2-0 win over Tampa Bay.
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Maple Leafs' Henry Thrun: Called up Wednesday
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Thrun was recalled from AHL Toronto on Wednesday.
Thrun has been putting up decent numbers in the minors, generating three goals and six helpers in 19 appearances with the Marlies. With Dakota Mermis (lower body) on injured reserve and Morgan Rielly under the weather, the 24-year-old Thrun could be pressed into service versus the Sharks on Thursday.
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Maple Leafs' Dakota Mermis: Placed on injured reserve
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Mermis (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, retroactive to Dec. 8.
The 31-year-old defender will miss about a month after exiting Monday's game against the Lightning in the third period, Lance Hornby of The Toronto Sun reports. The Maple Leafs recalled Henry Thrun from AHL Toronto in a corresponding move. Thrun will probably enter the lineup for Thursday's game against San Jose, but Philippe Myers could also see some additional playing time in Mermis' absence.
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Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann: Gets one-game ban
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McMann was suspended one game Tuesday for high-sticking Oliver Bjorkstrand in Monday's contest versus the Lightning.
McMann will be out Thursday versus the Sharks and will return versus the Oilers on Saturday. His absence will open the door for Nicholas Robertson or Matias Maccelli to get back in the lineup.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Pots empty-netter
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Matthews scored an empty-net goal on seven shots and blocked three shots in Monday's 2-0 win over the Lightning.
Matthews has three goals and three assists over his last six games. He's providing steady offense in a top-line role, though his scoring hasn't been as efficient this year, as he's at 12 goals, 20 points, 92 shots on net, 47 blocks and a plus-12 rating through 24 appearances. That's a 40-goal pace in a full campaign, but he's already missed five contests due to a lower-body injury in November, so the center will need to find a bit more offense to reach that level in 2025-26.
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Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly: Pots game-winner Monday
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Reilly scored the game-winning goal in Monday's 2-0 victory over the Lightning.
Late in the first period, the veteran blueliner had his initial shot attempt from the slot interrupted by a back-checking Jake Guentzel, but Reilly stuck with the play, recovered the puck and slipped a backhand past Jonas Johansson as he fell to the ice. That proved to be all the offense Dennis Hildeby would need. Reilly hasn't gone two straight games without recording a point since the end of October, and over his last 18 games, he's piled up three goals and 16 points with 34 shots on net, 26 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating.
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Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: Blanks Bolts for first career SO
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Hildeby made 29 saves in Monday's 2-0 win over the Lightning.
In his 15th career NHL appearance, Hildeby recorded his first career shutout, stymying a Tampa Bay lineup that got bolstered by the returns of Nikita Kucherov (undisclosed) and Brayden Point (undisclosed) on Monday. Hildeby has gone 2-2-2 for Toronto this season in nine outings with a 2.15 GAA and a .936 save percentage, and the 24-year-old netminder will be leaned on heavily while Joseph Woll (lower body) and Anthony Stolarz (upper body) are on the shelf.
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Maple Leafs' Bobby McMann: Facing suspension
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McMann will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety on Tuesday for a high stick on Oliver Bjorkstrand.
Since McMann is having a hearing with the league, fantasy managers can expect him to at least be suspended for Thursday's clash versus the Sharks, if not longer. The potential absence of McMann will likely open up a spot in the lineup for Nicholas Robertson, though Matias Maccelli should also be in the mix.
Maple Leafs' Dakota Mermis: Will be evaluated Tuesday
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Mermis (lower body) was unable to finish Monday's 2-0 win over the Lightning, and head coach Craig Berube said that the defenseman will be evaluated Tuesday, David Alter of The Hockey News reports.
Mermis was forced out of the contest during the final frame after taking a knee-on-knee hit from Gage Goncalves, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct as a result of the play. Mermis recorded one shot on goal and one block in 10:34 of ice time prior to departing. The 31-year-old can be considered day-to-day until his status is updated ahead of Thursday's home matchup against San Jose.
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Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: Between pipes Monday
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Hildeby will start Monday's home game against the Lightning, Dave McCarthy of NHL.com reports.
Hildeby has seen limited playing time over the past few weeks, but he's been effective when called upon, allowing just three goals on 81 shots despite going 1-0-1 over his last four appearances. He'll draw a second consecutive start Monday and will face off against the Lightning, who rank 10th in the NHL with 3.14 goals per game.
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