Easton Cowan injected some youth and enthusiasm elixer into the Maple Leafs on Monday, quite timely for a team whose veterans have been trying to work rust off.
With a record of 1-2 in games that have pivoted between slow starts and strong finishes, a last-minute 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in a home and home sweep has coach Craig Berube wondering how long it will take his club to find its way.
Our takeaways on the tumble at Scotiabank Arena:
RIDE ‘EM COWBOY
There was everything but a win for Cowan to celebrate in his NHL baptism, a day that began with a solo rookie skate in warm-up and many of his former London Knights teammates and friends from the Mount Brydges farm community catching his eye in the stands. A few wore his old Knights’ sweater backwards with the surname in front.
A shot block on his first shift, then a hit to create a turnover, three jolts in all to tie for the team lead, then entrusted with a late shift from the coach to try and tie it on a 6-on-5 gave Cowan instant chemistry on the first line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies.
Perhap talk wasn’t so premature that the first-round pick was ready for prime-time ice after a more conservative approach was taken with him starting at right wing on the fourth brigade.
“I went out there, played free and felt like I created a lot,” said Cowan, whose Leafs ball cap still looks too big for his baby face.
What coach Berube had to like was his willingness to get involved physically. Not that Max Domi shied away from that in his lone exhibition game there as the original choice for the right side, but Cowan made more impact than Mattias Maccelli, who is still looking for his best fit.
Cowan was proud to have put on weight this summer and even grow a bit more in range of six feet, while retaining the puck sense to find Matthews, Knies or the mobile Toronto defence in traffic. There was even 30 seconds of power-play on his 13:35 time sheet.
“A great game,” Berube declared. “Five-foot (passes) all over the ice. He’s totally different (than last year), way more confident. Direct. Skating way better.”
SORTING IT OUT
If Cowan stays up with Matthews, it creates an interesting situation below decks when Steven Lorentz is ready to play again. Berube said that’s a possibility Tuesday here against Nashville after Lorentz was rattled in the first period of Saturday’s eventual loss in Motown.
The fourth line/bottom six have produced soe of Toronto’s best efforts, Lorentz, Scott Laughton before his foot injury and the biggest offensive surprise of all, Calle Jarnkrok with three goals in as many games. That’s a Mats Sundin-William Nylander pace where Leaf forwards of Swedish heritage are concerned.
“He goes out every shift and just works. That’s his game,” Berube praised after Jarnkrok took a Knies pass to tie it 2-2 Monday with 6:42 to go in regulation.
Earlier, Bobby McMann had stepped in for Cowan, slithered down the boards and set up Knies. Maccelli appeared Monday on the left side with John Tavares and William Nylander.
For his part, Matthews is stuck on one opening night empty net goal, but Detroit’s Cam Talbot foiled him in alone and on the bang-bang rebound.
“Auston’s getting a lot of opportunities (eight of Toronto’s 41 shots on Talbot),” said Berube in defaulting to his captain’s superpower.
It’s also unusual to see Matthews with more penalty minutes (four) than points, but let’s remember t’s barely two weeks into October.
FEET DON’T FAIL ME NOW
With Toronto tied for the fourth-fewest power play chances (six) during Monday, it understates the lack of forecheck and speed that it’s known for to draw opposition penalties.
The Leafs long awaited first advantage on Monday was just 1:25, sandwiched between two of their own minors, while a full third-period chance didn’t generate a shot on net. That’s where Matthews, Nylander and John Tavares, who could also use his first goal anytime now, can get back on the horse.
GROUNDHOG DAYS
Tuesday is one back-to-back situation the Leafs can’t grouse about.
There’s no plane needed to get home and then back to the rink for an optional practice before playing the Predators, who also worked Monday afternoon in beating Ottawa 4-1.
“It’s unusual, but I’ve had them in the past,” Berube said. “We don’t need to travel, so it’s a little bit different the next day (than home-road). With the 2 o’clock start, the guys will get a good rest, we’ll bring them in for the morning and do some stuff, look at some (video).”
They’ll get a steady diet of general back-to-backs in coming weeks, including another home-home Nov. 8-9 versus Boston and Carolina. That and seven home-roads before New Year’s Day is a function of this season’s condensed schedule to allow for NHL Olympic participation in Februrary, which the players lobbied for.
X: @sunhornby
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