The Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens got their rivalry started early during the Prospect Showcase on Saturday, with Toronto winning 4-3 in a shootout.
Both teams got the fireworks started early as Florian Xhekaj and Chas Sharpe decided to get into a fight just over two minutes into the game.
Shortly after that, Toronto got on the board first after Braeden Kressler wired a wrist shot past Samuel Richard:
After Montreal tied things up shortly after, Toronto found themselves on the powerplay after Noah Chadwick took a nasty crosscheck into the crossbar. Toronto's top two prospects Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten worked together to give the Maple Leafs the lead after Minten buried a five-hole shot after an assist from Cowan and Topi Niemala; not long after, Cowan decided to get in on the fun and let go an absolute howitzer to increase the lead to 3-1.
Montreal was relentless though, and were able to bring things back to even after goals by Tyler Thorpe and Owen Beck push the game into extras. Toronto ended the game after it went to a shootout after goals from, you guessed it, Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan to seal the deal.
It's clear the chemistry between both players is there, and judging by their on ice performance so far, they could be fighting for an honest shot at the main roster. Not to mention Nikita Grebenkin, who himself had a solid game including a few defensive plays and finding himself at the center of offensive opportunities. Cowan and Minten look primed and ready to make the jump to the Maple Leafs but will they?
They definitely have the talent necessary to find themselves on the roster however the emergence of Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz on PTO's, and even the signing of Jani Hakanpaa to some extent; cause a logjam for spots. Cowan and Minten (and to an extent, Grebenkin) all showed today they belong somwhere on the team in some capacity; but will the Maple Leafs take a risk and throw the youngsters into the fire?
At least in terms of Cowan, he should make the squad; the team would need to send him back to London for a full season as opposed to the AHL and can't just recall him from loan as in professional soccer. He would fit in nicely alongside Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok or Max Pacioretty, allowing Pontus Holmberg to shift down to the 4th line with Ryan Reaves and David Kampf. It would provide the Maple Leafs insurance for Cowan while also keeping tabs on Minten in the AHL.
Player of the Game: Easton Cowan
Cowan had himself a monster game for the Maple Leafs, contributing a goal and an assist as well as scoring one of the two Maple Leafs goals in the shootout. He also drew a penalty which led to Fraser Minten's goal, and he looked comfortable patrolling the powerplay. He showed poise beyond his years, and he was able to help secure the victory for Toronto. A few more games like this and he'll be in the lineup come October.
