BOSTON — William Nylander stood in a solemn visitors locker room at TD Garden just before midnight.
The Maple Leafs had battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories — including one that required extra time — in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Nylander's message was emphatic.
"Look, I don't think there's an issue with the core," the winger said of Toronto's gifted, high-paid and, to date, underachieving nucleus just before Saturday turned into Sunday.