Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman was named captain, while Edmonton Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson joined Nylander as alternates.

Nylander’s first-career hat trick happened on the same day eight years ago in 2017 against the Boston Bruins in a 6-5 Leafs win.

John Hynes knows that William Nylander can lead the Maple Leafs out of the little hole they’ve dug for themselves. The Leafs have scored just two goals in losing their past two games, and neither came off the stick of Nylander after the star winger had four goals in the previous three games, all Toronto victories.

John Tavares, Bobby McMann and Matthew Knies also scored for Toronto, which pulled one point behind first-place Florida in the Atlantic Division. Auston Matthews had three assists and Joseph Woll stopped 23 shots.

William Nylander netted his second career hat trick and Matthew Knies collected one goal and one assist as the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs rode a four-goal second period to a 6-3 victory over the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

William Nylander recorded the second hat trick of his career in a 6-3 rout of the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night, made even more interesting by the fact that his first hat trick was eight years ago to the day against the Boston Bruins in 2017.