Leafs Look To Cowan To Spark Top Line

The Toronto Maple Leafs return to Scotiabank Arena for the first of back-to-back home games with a Thanksgiving afternoon tilt against the Detroit Red Wings. Toronto followed up a solid first period in which they took a 2-0 lead at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night with their worst effort of the young season, allowing the Wings to dominate puck possession in the middle frame and erase their lead with three goals, and then score three unanswered goals in the third in a 6-3 loss. 

The game marked the second time that the Leafs struggled to maintain a high level of performance in the second period, and they forced goalie Anthony Stolarz to face more than 30 shots. The Wings were the more desperate of the two clubs after getting trounced in their home opener 5-1 by Montreal, but head coach Craig Berube was not pleased with the inconsistent effort of his club and the injury to fourth liner Steven Lorentz has necessitated some line changes. 

Matias Maccelli, who does not seem to be a good fit on the right side of the top line with Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews, has been shifted to where many observers expected him to slot in, on his natural left side with John Tavares and William Nylander. Bobby McMann has been reunited with Max Domi and Nick Robertson on the third line, and Dakota Joshua has been moved to a checking unit with veterans Nicolas Roy and Calle Jarnkrok. 

The big change is rookie Easton Cowan being placed on the right side with Knies and Matthews for his NHL debut. Berube is looking for a spark with his top line tandem, who have just two points in two games, and believes that the 20-year-old’s work at hunting pucks will be a good fit. 

“(Cowan) is a guy that can get down low in the offensive zone, I’d like to get that line more possession,” Berube said. “He does that stuff, he’s a great hounder. He gets on top of things, he’s strong on pucks. That’s why I made that switch.”

Lorentz played just 1:17 and left the game in the first period after a mid-ice collision and did not return. Berube indicated that he was doubtful for Monday, but it did not sound as if the injury is long-term. 

Stolarz will make his third straight start in goal, but with the second of back-to-back games on Tuesday against Nashville, it likely means that Cayden Primeau will make his first start in a Leaf uniform against the Predators.