The Toronto Maple Leafs finally gave their fans and themselves something to be thankful for, clawing out of the Eastern Conference basement with a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. The win, secured by William Nylander's record-setting overtime goal, marked just their second victory in nine games and provided a much-needed morale boost during a troubled season.
Woll Stands Tall in the Crease
Goaltender Joseph Woll was the undeniable backbone of the Maple Leafs' victory, turning aside 35 shots to secure his 50th career win. In a month where steady goaltending has been scarce, Woll's performance was a throwback to the reliability the team has come to expect from him and Anthony Stolarz when healthy.
He was particularly sharp against Columbus threats Zach Werenski and Adam Fantilli, with Werenski's late third-period goal on an odd-man rush being the only puck to get past him. Woll’s composure was on full display when he stymied a dangerous 3-on-1 shorthanded chance, a pivotal moment that could have swung the game entirely.
Coach Craig Berube praised his netminder's efforts, noting, "Looks like he’s on his toes, seeing things well, playing a lot of pucks. His battle was really good tonight, he fought through traffic." Woll's strong showing comes at a critical time as the team navigates a six-game road trip.
Nylander Delivers Despite Bench Drama
The dynamic between coach Craig Berube and star winger William Nylander provided a subplot to the game. Television cameras captured a heated exchange during a stoppage, with Berube appearing to admonish Nylander for a defensive lapse. Nylander responded in the best way possible: by making plays.
His relentless forecheck directly led to rookie Easton Cowan's game-tying goal late in the third period. Then, in overtime, Nylander made the winner look effortless, breaking a franchise record with his 15th career overtime goal. His offensive consistency has been a bright spot; he has recorded at least a point in all but one game since October 13.
Key Returns and Rookie Resilience
The game also marked the return of several key players from injury. Auston Matthews was back in the lineup alongside Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy. While Matthews didn't hit the scoresheet, he logged nearly 25 minutes of ice time, fired three shots on goal, and won nine of 15 faceoffs, showing his eagerness to contribute.
Rookie Easton Cowan continued to earn the trust of the coaching staff with his promotion to the top line. Despite a nerve-wracking mistake on the power play that led to Columbus's 3-on-1 chance, he rebounded to score the crucial tying goal. Berube commended the youngster's mentality, saying, "He’s young, but he learns from them, he listens and wants to get better. He’s got ice water [in his veins]."
With this win, the Maple Leafs will look to build momentum as they continue their road trip with games against the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins this weekend.
