4 takeaways from Leafs-Blue Jackets: Woll rescues essential OT win, a return to 5-forward power play

Although the Maple Leafs submitted one of their best defensive efforts of the season, it wasn’t always looking rosy. Zach Werenski broke the deadlock, beating Woll off the rush, while Auston Matthews (returning from a five-game absence) lingered in the background. And while it’s not quantifiable, this is when the Maple Leafs unlocked the benefits of the glass half-full mentality.

Easton Cowan scored his second goal of his young NHL career to tie the game, with three minutes and 17 seconds left in regulation. John Tavares and William Nylander established a strong forecheck, Cowan darted to the side of the net and tapped the puck home for a goal that could serve as a catalyst for change, if the Maple Leafs begin to stack wins on this pivotal road trip.

COWBOY TIES IT UP!!!!!!

📽️: Sportsnet | NHL

The game went to overtime, and after both teams traded chances, Nylander responded to the inherent challenge and wired it home, securing a vital win for the Maple Leafs with his 11th goal of the season.

WILLIAM NYLANDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

📽️: Sportsnet | NHL

Woll is the main reason why the Maple Leafs won, and it’s only fitting that he received the team belt, awarded to the Leafs’ best or most impactful player in a winning effort.

A Wolly Mammoth sized performance

Here are four takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 2-1 overtime win against the Blue Jackets:

Auston Matthews improves as the game goes on during return from 5-game absenceAuston Matthews was one of three Maple Leafs to the re-enter lineup from multi-game injury-related absences, joined by Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy. All eyes were on the Leafs’ captain, who could serve as an agent of necessary change as the team attempts to claw out of the Eastern Conference basement. It was a relatively tepid start for Matthews, but he improved as the game wore on.

Matthews spun off Ivan Provorov during the first period, working patiently to create some separation, ran a give-and-go with Max Domi then hit the post. He would fire a shot on goal early in the second period, and while this was far from his 2023-24 form, there were signs of progress.

Matthews drove the net and drew a penalty late on Blue Jackets forward Miles Wood in the second period, a good sign that he can use his power to overwhelm defenders. He was moving the puck well with the man advantage, and was hunting for his shot.

Wood hooks Matthews

Leafs get the power play

No one will mistake this for a signature Matthews performance, but there were signs of progress, and the Maple Leafs will need more as he ramps his way back into top form throughout the road trip.

Joseph Woll was the primary reason why Leafs emerged with the victory

This is perhaps burying the lede: Woll was the primary reason why the Maple Leafs won this game, making nine high-danger saves in the process — it could’ve very well have been 19 high-danger saves, and few would’ve questioned the veracity.

Woll made his fifth consecutive start, and he’s carrying the load for the Maple Leafs during this road trip, as the team incorporates some key veterans back into the lineup. He was irate about getting pulled from Saturday’s loss to the Montreal Canadiens, even though he was exempt from criticism. Woll was unbeatable on Wednesday, and while Cowan, Nylander and Tavares rallied in the victory, this win clearly belongs to the Maple Leafs’ goaltender

Here are some select examples, as Woll closed the door on Sean Monahan off the rush, as the Leafs’ first line allowed him to walk in unimpeded.

clutch blocker from Joseph Woll

Adam Fantilli has dominated the Maple Leafs recently, but Woll kept him at bay, most notably with an excellent blocker save from high-danger range in the second period.

Toronto were outshot 14-6 during the third period and appeared doomed to collapse, but Woll was having none of it.

What a stop by Woll!

📽️: Sportsnet | NHL

Woll robs Wood twice back-to-back after the Leafs tie the game

Easton Cowan tied the game, but Woll wasn’t afforded any relief, making two unbelievable saves on Miles Wood on the next shift, forcing overtime. Woll deserves all the praise after securing a crucial victory for the slumping Maple Leafs.

Joseph Woll saved 2.62 goals above expected in all situations via MoneyPuck.

glass half-full: Joseph Woll and Easton Cowan

Easton Cowan’s strong start to the season perhaps exemplifies the glass half-full approachAdmittedly, we’re taking Berube’s ‘glass half-full’ edict with some humour. There have been few positives to constantly focus on, but Easton Cowan is a consistent bright spot for the Maple Leafs and his second NHL goal couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

Cowan worked well throughout the night with Tavares and Nylander, and he should be a fixture within the top-six, even with Matthews and Knies in the lineup. The 20-year-old finished with a 70 percent share of the expected goals at 5-on-5, leading the Maple Leafs in their winning effort.

“He is a young kid. There will be mistakes, but he learns from them, in my opinion. He listens, and he wants to get better. He has ice water in his veins. He doesn’t feel the pressure,” Berube said of Cowan, post-game. “He just plays. He knows his capabilities and what he can do.”

glass half-full: Joseph Woll and Easton Cowan

Five-forward power play needs a larger sampleToronto used a five-forward power play through the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, and it largely paid dividends. There are circumstantial differences this year, namely that a 102-point winger asked for a trade to a Western Conference power. And while the makeup of this year’s Maple Leafs are different, Cowan may be asked to fill the void on the power play.

We want to see a larger sample with Cowan on a five-forward unit, as the Maple Leafs drew just two penalties. It certainly couldn’t hurt: Tavares and Knies are the power forwards at the net-front and bumper that Berube has always envisioned, while Matthews and Nylander should be able to strike fear into opponents from the circle — this is where Matthews’ location and velocity becomes paramount. There wasn’t enough to draw a meaningful conclusion from Wednesday’s win, but we’d like to see the five-forward unit for Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

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