Maple Leafs vs Canadiens: Which Players Now Have the Best Chance to Make the Team

Toronto's first line tonight of Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton, & Easton Cowan combined to net four goals and eight points on the night, dominating as the Leafs dismantled Montreal and managed to dominate the rival Canadiens.

Scott Laughton got Toronto on the board early with two goals in the first period before Mike Matheson netted a goal back for Montreal on the power play, with Bobby McMann bringing back Toronto's two goal lead 31 seconds later to end the first period off 3-1.

Patrik Laine scored for Montreal in the second to cut the lead to 3-2, but Steven Lorentz managed to get two goals for the Leafs in a 1:37 span to bring the Leafs lead up to 5-2, both plays assisted by Lorentz.

Lorentz added an assist on a goal in the third period from defenseman Matt Benning, and prospect forward Ryan Tverberg taking a breakout pass for the Leafs seventh goal.

Dennis Hildeby backstopped Toronto to a win with a quiet 13 shots on goal and two goals allowed, with Montreal's Samuel Montembault on the losing end, allowing seven goals on 25 shots faced.

Toronto lost defenseman Marshall Rifai after exiting the game with an upper-body injury. Montreal defenseman Noah Dobson left for an unknown reason. Neither returned to the game.

The Leafs will play again Saturday against Montreal at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Most of the top Leafs who sat out tonight's game, including captain Auston Matthews, are likely to play the team's home match.

Easton Cowan may have forced his way onto the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup after this game.

Playing alongside Steven Lorenz and Scott Laughton, the trio combined to score four goals in the team's win, in what is expected to be the Leafs fourth line, Cowan has shown the chemistry to potentially join them.

Although the idea of a rookie other fourth line, one who is not the most physical, is a question mark, the connection the three have shown together is promising. Cowan may still start the season in the AHL to play in the top-six, but he looks promising right now with the Leafs projected fourth liners.

Likely as roster cuts come, Toronto will end their preseason with Lorentz and Laughton on the bottom-six, giving Cowan an opportunity to show that he can translate the momentum in a bottom-six role, which could solidify his spot on the Leafs lineup.

Dennis Hildeby did well for the Leafs in staying composed in net. This was the second game in a row in which Hildeby looked comfortable in the starting role and hasn't been fazed playing against legitimate NHL talents in both games.

With Joseph Woll currently away from the team, Hildeby did well auditioning for a chance to potentially hold on to the Leafs backup role depending on how Woll is out, or at least showing enough skill for the Leafs to not need any adds in net, or a third goaltender for when Woll and Stolarz go down.

A quiet game for forward Jacob Quillan in the bottom-six, with the Leafs prospect likely needing another year in the AHL, but shows his promise as a potential fourth liner in the near future.

With a great game for Easton Cowan comes the inevitable question of who loses out if Cowan does indeed make the Leafs roster.

David Kampf looked a bit out of step at times with the pace of play. More was needed from the Czech center to ensure his place in the lineup and tonight wasn't the night that gained him any advantage.

Kampf, and the rest of the Leafs, were overshadowed by the Leafs first line, but without Nick Robertson and Calle Jarnkrok in the roster vs Montreal, the notice was on Kampf, and he didn't show much in comparison to Cowan, although not on the same line.

One player who appears to have erased any questions about his future tonight was Scott Laughton with a two goal effort in the first period for Toronto. Laughton looked engaged and had some solid moments without the puck.

Lorentz has also solidified himself as likely on the fourth line, leaving their partner on the right wing being the one thing that may remain undecided at this time, although Cowan made a strong statement the role should belong to him.

A performance like tonight might not only rejuvenate Laughton after a disappointing performance after being traded to Toronto, but could move him up the lineup.

Craig Berube has indicated that his third line center is Nicolas Roy, and appears fond of pairing Roy with Dakota Joshua, but Laughton seems like he has more to offer and it could move him up the lineup.

Neither Philippe Myers or Henry Thrun, two players looking down a potential lineup spot with Simon Benoit out, showed a dominant enough performance to challenge Benoit and scoot him off the final open defense spot.

Matt Benning isn't likely to be in the Leafs lineup, but looked engaged in the defensive end and moved the puck well, and was rewarded on offense with a goal. He had some passes go wide at times, but showed that he could be a potential call-up option.

Little likely changed from tonight's game in terms of any major roster projections, with the biggest being the strengthening of Easton Cowan's roster chances, but add new questions over who finds themselves just outside the main roster, and who will be left out entirely.