2 Takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 OT Loss to the Blue Jackets – The Hockey Writers Toronto Maple Leafs Latest News, Analysis & More

The Toronto Maple Leafs took on the Columbus Blue Jackets in their final home game until December 6. This game was a lot like the ones against the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, they played well for almost 60 minutes, but unfortunately lost in overtime 3-2.

Related: 3 Maple Leafs players who could be moved in a roster-for-roster trade

This season we have seen the Maple Leafs take the lead. But last night we saw them fight back from 2-0 down and force the game into extra time. This is a huge step forward for a Toronto team that has struggled through the first 20 games of the season.

Easton Cowan’s breakout game

This is the game Maple Leafs fans have been waiting for. Easton Cowan finally had a breakout game, true he played 20 minutes and was even promoted to the top alongside William Nylander and John Tavares. He finished the night with an assist, plus-2 and four shots on goal. However, during his 21 shifts, he had a big impact on the game.

There was a noticeable difference in the way Cowan played after being sent to the American Hockey League (AHL). Since he was drafted, he’s been playing a little heavier, snappier and overall better. He has gone harder inside on the forcheck, harder to the net, and seems more confident when he has the puck on his stick. An example was last night in the overtime period when he and Max Domi were on the ice together. Cowan collected the puck in the defensive zone and controlled it 60 yards above the ice, and instead of passing it to Domi, he grabbed it himself and drove to the net. If he can do more of that, he will look like a drastically different player and will likely keep his spot on the team.

Another good team performance despite losing

It has not happened often this season that this team has been praised for their good team performance. However, they have made great efforts in the last three games. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the results they wanted, but it’s a big step in the right direction. Hopefully they can continue to string these games together and when they get their injured players back into the lineup, they can start picking up wins and moving up in the standings.

Related: Treliving takes responsibility for Maple Leafs’ poor start

Last night their weakest point was defense, which was reflected in both of Adam Fantilli’s goals. The first goal was the result of the defense sitting too far back and giving him too much time and space, which led to him dragging the puck with his toes and shot it past Joseph Woll. On his second goalwhich was the overtime winner, Jake McCabe jumped on the play and finished on the Blue Jackets goal, and when the puck was turned over, he left Domi behind. Unfortunately he played the corner poorly and allowed Fantilli to go wide, giving him a great path to the net and allowing him to beat Woll for the winner and his second of the night. If things like that can be tightened up, the Maple Leafs will be a better team, but that’s just extra attention to detail that comes with more buy-in from the team.

What’s next for the Maple Leafs?

The Maple Leafs hit the road for one six-game road trip. Their first stop is Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens. They will also make stops in Columbus (Nov. 26), Washington (Nov. 28), Pittsburgh (Nov. 29), Florida (Dec. 2) and Carolina (Dec. 4) before bringing him back for another game against the Canadiens on Dec. 6. This upcoming six-game road trip is one of the most important periods of their season. One where they need to get at least 3-4 wins to keep pace with the teams ahead of them in the standings.