Maple Leafs Escape Scare with Easton Cowan in Win vs the Predators
Photo credit: Sportsnet
Needing a bounce back game, the Toronto Maple Leafs came out flying against the Nashville Predators, and thankfully escaped an injury scare to rookie Easton Cowan.
Coming off back to back losses against the Detroit Red Wings, the Toronto Maple Leafs needed a statement game versus the Nashville Predators and boy did they ever get it.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, the Predators were able to tie the game only 34 seconds apart to even it out at two apiece.
However, Toronto decided to strike back with a vengeance, and goals from John Tavares, Bobby McMann, William Nylander and a pair from Auston Matthews that sealed the deal in the 7-4 victory.
But didn't come without some scares.
Easton Cowan Narrowly Avoids Disaster vs. Predators
Rookie forward Easton Cowan escaped injury after being shoved into the net by Predators forward Ozzy Wiesblatt and careened into the post. He was shaken up but was otherwise alright; and it let to a massive fracas.
Chris Tanev was having none of it and immediately went after Wiesblatt and gave him a few shoves as a warning, and the next time it might not be the jovial and smiling Tanev we see in his face.
It would have been a nightmare scenario for Toronto to not have only lost their rookie to injury but the fact that it would make it three injured players already on the shelf, plus Joseph Woll being absent; the team would have been quickly dropping like flies.
Things turned out okay for Cowan that's for sure...
Easton Cowan Records First Career Point in 7-4 Victory
Get shoved into the net at 25mph? Eh, the rookie shook it off and decided he wanted to finally get on the scoreboard.
He corralled the puck and made yet another gorgeous outlet feed to Auston Matthews to spring him and Matthew Knies for a 2-on-1. Knies took the first pass and slid it back to Matthews who beat Juuse Annunen glove side:
Matthews immediately signalled to Cowan as recognition for his first career point, and veteran Oliver Ekman-Larsson grabbed the puck as a memento:
Toronto added some much needed insurance after Nashville brought it back within two, as Matthews added his second of the night on an empty netter.
Knies, Matthews and Cowan combined for six points (2 goals, 4 assists), a plus-7, with eight shots, four blocks and five hits. It's the exact type of performance the team has needed from their top line.
Knies channeled his inner Mitch Marner and had three assists as he continues to ride the hot hand.
John Tavares got his first goal of the season as well and finished with a team-high three points (1 goal, 2 assists).
Cayden Primeau was solid in his first start although he did manage to let four goals squeak past him so thankfully the Maple Leafs were able to score in bunches and saved 27 of 31 shots in relief of Anthony Stolarz.
Both teams combined for 11 goals on a combined 60 shots while Toronto out-hit and blocked more shots than the Predators; both teams had three penalties each.
What's Next For Toronto and Nashville?
Toronto (2-2-0) continue with the third game of their five-game homestand against the New York Rangers (2-3-0) on Thursday night (7pm ET; TSN4)
Nashville (2-1-1) take on the Montreal Canadiens (3-1-0) as they continue their Eastern road trip (7pm ET; TSN2, RDS, ESPN+).
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