Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a sudden change to their lineup late against the Nashville Predators.
Easton Cowan has been moved up to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the team searches for an offensive plug up top.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are giving Easton Cowan a shot on the top line alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies as the Leafs have been on a scoring slump within their top-six.
Cowan has played on the second line in recent games, including Toronto’s most recent match on Thursday against Washington.
Easton Cowan moves up the lineup as William Nylander drops to line two
William Nylander, who had been projected originally on the top line for the Leafs, has been dropped down to the second line with John Tavares in Cowan’s place.
Toronto has found difficulty building their scoring chances and have seen generating goalscoring opportunities lacking, one of the worst teams in the league offensively.
Cowan, moved up onto the top-six, is an attempt by Toronto to put an offensive creator on the top line and hope as it turns some of the Leafs fortunes around.
The rookie Cowan has four goals and 10 points in 25 games this season for the Tpronto Maple Leafs, having played all over the Leafs lineup this season.
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Toronto has largely changed it’s lineup despite the blowout 4-0 loss to Washington, including the return of frequent healthy scratch Matias Maccelli, on the second for the Leafs.
Nick Robertson was dropped down to the third line with Nicolas Roy and Bobby Mcmann. Dakota Joshua was lowered down to the fourth line with Scott Laughton and Calle Jarnkrok. Steven Lorentz is tonight’s healthy scratch at forward.
After a difficult performance vs the Capitals, Oliver Ekman-Larsson was moved down to the third pairing, with Philippe Myers coming into the game on the first pair. Henry Thrun moves out of the lineup on defense for Toronto.
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