John Tavares added a goal on the power play — which had some great puck movement — in the first period to get Toronto's scoring started.
The Maple Leafs needed a couple of their players on the bubble to stand out, and that's what happened against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
Toronto, unfortunately, lost William Nylander late in the first period after he received a push on the back check from Nick Robertson before losing his balance and colliding with the knee of Christian Dvorak.
The Maple Leafs kept him out for the rest of the game due to precautionary reasons, the team said just after the second intermission.
After a game-winning goal from Nick Robertson in the second period, Toronto earned their first win of the pre-season after losing back-to-back games against the Ottawa Senators.
Easton Cowan
There was a lot at stake in this game for Cowan — playing with some of Toronto's top players in Mitch Marner and Max Domi — amid a battle for the final spots on the Maple Leafs' roster.
And I thought he had his best game of the pre-season thus far.
There were still stints where Cowan was a bit timid with the puck, but he showcased his smarts with a couple of good scoring chances, including one where he set up Simon Benoit for a breakaway.
Cowan also had a chance where he used his speed out wide and cut into the net for a scoring chance, but put the puck wide.
Overall, it was a game that I think Cowan should be happy about. He showcased what made him such a prolific player in the OHL last season. But as Berube said, the forward is putting a lot of pressure on himself, and you can still see that within his game at times.
Nick Robertson
Although it was a bumpy start for Robertson, giving William Nylander a push on the back check, which resulted in the 27-year-old falling and taking a knee to the head, there were plenty of positives in his game.
The 23-year-old played his game, using his speed and relentless on the puck to create chances, not only for himself but his teammates too. Robertson started to find his game in the second period when he stripped Arber Xhekaj of the puck before setting up Bobby McMann on the 2-on-1.
Robertson followed that play up by picking Adam Engstrom's pocket and beating Jakub Dobes on the breakaway. He showcases his ability to outwork his opponent before using his elite shot to find the back of the net, putting Toronto up 2-1.
This is a massive step for Robertson as he continues to push to make the Maple Leafs. It was a game which caught the eye of Berube, and it might have been good enough to get more looks in Toronto's main group in camp.
Fourth line
The Maple Leafs might've found something with Steven Lorentz.
The forward, who's on a professional tryout with Toronto, made his pre-season debut with the Maple Leafs against Montreal and fit the role he was brought in for. The whole line, actually, stood out to me.
Whether it was in the offensive zone — where they created a bunch of scoring chances — or the defensive end, Lorentz, David Kampf, and Ryan Reaves showed that there could be some early chemistry within the trio.
Reaves and Lorentz were both very active with their heavy bodies — which then created turnovers from Montreal's side — resulting in the trio having extended time in the offensive zone.
The three players can create a lot of opportunities with their physicality, and that could bode well for them with Berube behind the bench. Another positive is that Lorentz was out in the dying moments of the game trying to keep Toronto's lead intact, which he did.
Anthony Stolarz
Calm is the word I'd use to describe Stolarz's game.
Although he allowed one goal against Montreal, the 30-year-old goaltender had tranquillity to his game, which isn't often seen in the Maple Leafs' net. His size and ability to be in the right position at the correct times showed true in Toronto's win over Montreal.
He exited the game after the second period, finishing with one goal allowed on 10 shots. Matt Murray finished with seven saves after coming into the game in the third period.
