3 takeaways from Leafs-Blue Jackets: Cowan’s best NHL game, Laughton’s strong return in losing effort

For the first time in several weeks, the Toronto Maple Leafs should’ve fared better in a losing effort, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Adam Fantilli was terrific for the Blue Jackets, torturing his hometown club with two goals and an assist. It initially appeared that Fantilli scored the game’s opening goal, but it was credited to Dmitri Voronkov.

John Tavares registered a goal and an assist, while Dakota Mermis scored his first NHL goal since February 24, 2024. Joseph Woll made 27 saves on 30 shots, and was solid for the Maple Leafs down the stretch. Ultimately, the Maple Leafs tightened up their defensive structure and allowed fewer odd-man rushes to a speedy Blue Jackets team, but a costly blunder sunk them in overtime.

Max Domi was searching for a cutting Oliver Ekman-Larsson but instead he delivered a pass that was picked off by Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski, who found Fantilli racing down the boards. Fantilli capped off a sensational game, bursting past the Maple Leafs, then tucked the past Woll for the winner.

Fantilli wins it on OT

📽️: TSN | NHL

Toronto deserved better, but there’s little room for moral victories in the National Hockey League.

First Leafs loss this season where I can point out more players I liked than ones I disliked. Tavares, Cowan, Laughton were all stellar tonight. Bad outcome but more efforts like the past two and things will even out eventually

Here are three takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 loss to the Blue Jackets: 

Easton Cowan earns promotion to top line during his best game of the seasonEaston Cowan has been one of the Maple Leafs’ best players all season and earned an in-game promotion to the top line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. Cowan-Tavares-Nylander outshot the Blue Jackets 4-0 at 5-on-5 and were on the ice for both of the team’s 5-on-5 goals — this is almost a misnomer as Tavares was directly involved in both goals.

Cowan drew a tripping penalty on Charlie Coyle five minutes into the contest, and used his speed well to create opportunities throughout the game. He was fighting for pucks when starting out on the third line alongside Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton, and showed enough through the first frame to ascend through the lineup. Cowan played a career-best 20:06 and he may be in line for top-line minutes against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Easton Cowan getting some well-deserved minutes with John Tavares and William Nylander. He’s been one of the Leafs’ best 12 forwards all season and that’s certainly true again tonight.

Cowan worked a strong two-man game with John Tavares for the game-tying goal. Tavares sped through the neutral zone with some force, and then found Cowan bursting down the flank. Cowan returned the pass to Tavares, who made no mistake from the slot for the game-tying goal. It was a great moment and one that invites the natural reflection of time, with the 20-year-old Cowan operating as the team’s future, setting up a former captain and franchise legend.

JT ties it up!!!!!

📽️: TSN | NHL

“I think he’s come a long way,” Tavares said of Cowan post-game. “His ability to read the game and make little plays, just like he did on my goal. He just lays it in there, not too quick, just in the right spot with the right pace on it, just an easy play for me to put in. And he seems to be stronger on the puck, absorbing contact, things like that. You saw it throughout the game and I thought it was evident in overtime as well. He’s playing really well and credit to him, the way he’s not tried to do too much or focus too much on things offensively, but just tried to be consistent with his game in all areas.”

Cowan-Tavares-Nylander: 10-3 shot attempts, 4-0 shots, on the ice for both Leafs goals scored in 7:58 at 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick. There may be some evidence to keep them together on Saturday.

Easton Cowan getting some well-deserved minutes with John Tavares and William Nylander. He’s been one of the Leafs’ best 12 forwards all season and that’s certainly true again tonight.

“He’s like a dog on a bone out there for me. He just works and skates and sees the ice extremely well. He’s being a lot more heavier on pucks and making good decisions with the puck. I thought he played a really good game today,”

Anyway, I think Easton Cowan is pretty clearly an NHLer.

He’s generated a ton but he’s only shooting 4%, and that includes quite a few grade A chances. As it is, he’s got five points in his first 13 games and it’s only a matter of time before the puck starts going in the net.

Scott Laughton’s tenacity, penalty killing acumen is welcome reliefScott Laughton returned to the lineup after being out since November 8 with an upper-body injury. Laughton’s penalty killing acumen and leadership were on full display, best evidenced by a massive third-period shot block on Ivan Provorov. The 31-year-old skated to the bench and shook off the play, noting after the game it’s the type of play that he gets paid for.

“I thought he was really good today. A lot of energy, skated well, killed some penalties, created some offence. He brings that tenacity every shift,” Berube said of Laughton post-game.

Scott Laughton ladies and gentlemen

“It felt good,” Laughton said of his own performance, post-game. “The energy was there. It was helpful to be out with Cowboy and Jarny (Calle Jarnkrok) for some shifts and Stevie (Steven Lorentz), we read off each other well. I thought we did a good job for the most part.”

Laughton, Cowan and Tavares were Toronto’s best forwards throughout the night. The veteran forward rotated well on the penalty kill with some huge clearances during the first and third periods, he recorded three shots at 5-on-5, while winning 13-of-18 faceoffs in all situations. He’s exactly the type of composed, intelligent player designed to round out the bottom-six, and he provided a even-keeled perspective in a market that has a tendency to meltdown on a shift-by-shift basis.

“You can’t get negative or down in this situation,” Laughton said. “You continue to roll, you continue to go, and keep playing together. Good things are going to happen if we continue to manage the puck, make it hard on teams to come out of the zone. I thought our D moved the puck well, they put pucks on net. Big goal by Merms (Dakota Mermis), just couldn’t get the extra. Sun comes up tomorrow and we get after it and go to Montreal for a big game.”

John Tavares is the first-quarter MVP for the Maple LeafsThe Leafs Nation will have quarterly grades up by Friday afternoon, but a quick spoiler: John Tavares is the Maple Leafs’ MVP through 21 games, cementing this designation with another excellent game. Tavares was remarkable for the Maple Leafs, he was the recipient of the team belt after Tuesday’s win over the St. Louis Blues for fending off three defenders in overtime. The 35-year-old couldn’t repeat the feat for the second consecutive game, but his leadership is visible for all to see.

“He wills his way around the ice. The effort he puts in on every shift is remarkable,” Berube said of Tavares post-game.

“I think the way he battles. His power on the puck, the way he skates, creates. He’s good on faceoffs, he’s good on the power play, everything. He leads by example and he’s a great human being,” Laughton said of Tavares.

Tavares led the way with four shots and seven shot attempts at 5-on-5. He worked tirelessly on every shift to retain possession, and he’s facilitating the growth of the franchise’s prized rookie. Tavares deserves all the accolades coming his way, and though it’s been a trying first quarter for the Maple Leafs, he’s been in vintage form every step of the way.

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