Nylander Dodges Game Day Mix-Up on His Birthday

Toronto, Canada — William Nylander celebrated his 29th birthday by taking the ice for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 6 of their first-round series. The team faced a potentially serious lineup issue when an official discovered that Nylander had been mistakenly listed as his brother on the Official Game Report.

The error could have sidelined Nylander for the crucial matchup. Luckily, an official caught the mistake just before the game, allowing Nylander to play. According to the NHL rulebook, if a player is in uniform but not included in the Official Game Report, the referee can correct it with no penalty to the team.

”This could have been a nightmare for us,” said Maple Leafs coach. ”We’re really grateful that the error was noticed in time.” If uncorrected, Nylander would have had to leave the ice before the puck drop, leaving Toronto unable to replace him in the lineup.

The importance of this correction was highlighted by a similar situation involving the Nashville Predators, which resulted in a minor penalty earlier this season. On that occasion, an incorrect player listing caused complications during their game.

Nylander went on to make a significant impact in the game. He recorded an assist on the opening goal and scored just 43 seconds into the second period, helping propel the Maple Leafs to a critical victory.