Maple Leafs’ Nylander out, Rielly in against Sabres

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ lineup is very much in flux.

William Nylander and Morgan Rielly were among a “few” game-time decisions for Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada tilt against the Buffalo Sabres, head coach Craig Berube said.

But shortly before puck drop, Nylander was scratched while Rielly returned to the lineup.

It will be the first regular-season game Nylander has missed since April 4, 2022.

Nylander exited with 5:51 remaining in the third period of Friday’s first half of the home-and-home against the Sabres and did not return for another shift.

The 29-year-old was shown on the broadcast skating to the bench slowly after taking a hit to the mid-section in open ice from Sabres forward Jason Zucker.

He has recorded three goals and 11 assists in eight contests so far this season.

$el.after( unescape("%3Cscript src=\"" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js\" %3E%3C/script%3E") );

$( document ).one( 'ready', function() { $( "#video_container-180731" ).SNPlayer( { bc_account_id: "1704050871", bc_player_id: "JCdte3tMv", //autoplay: true, //is_has_autoplay_switch: false, bc_videos: 6383887931112, is_has_continuous_play: "false", section: "", thumbnail: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/6383887931112-1024x576.jpg", direct_url: "https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/video/maple-leafs-nylander-drops-in-sabres-zone-misses-next-shift/" }); });

Rielly, 31, missed Friday’s game with an undisclosed injury suffered Tuesday against the New Jersey Devils.

The exact nature of the defenceman’s injury was unclear.

Meanwhile, fellow blue liner Chris Tanev and centre Scott Laughton remain on injured reserve as the Maple Leafs look to snap a three-game losing streak.

Between the pipes, Cayden Primeau will get his second start for the Maple Leafs, with Dennis Hildeby set to serve as the backup. Primary goaltender Anthony Stolarz has been given a rest day after starting the last four outings, including Friday’s 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres in the first half of a back-to-back home-and-home.

Primeau, 26, last made an appearance on Oct. 14 against the Nashville Predators, earning the win in a 7-4 slugfest and finishing with a .867 save percentage.

He has spent the first seven seasons of his professional career with the Montreal Canadiens and has a 3.70 goals-against average with a .884 save percentage in 56 appearances.

After rejoining the team on Friday, goaltender Joseph Woll was back skating Saturday. Berube said that while it was great to see him on the ice but general manager Brad Treliving will detail Woll’s return to action.

Live coverage of the game against the Sabres will be available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.