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The silver lining is Toronto is trending positive in many areas and a long string of injuries seems to be abating
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Published Nov 20, 2025 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 3 minute read
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Columbus Blue Jackets’ Adam Fantilli (19) celebrates his game-winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in overtime NHL hockey action in Toronto, on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Photo by Sammy Kogan /THE CANADIAN PRESSArticle content
A symbolic point in the standings – but overall disappointment in the dressing room – sums up Thursday night for the Maple Leafs.
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With a possible three-goal comeback win on their sticks during overtime, they might have taken their second straight at Scotiabank Arena, but fell 3-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets and are 1-4-2 in their past seven outings.
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The silver lining is they’re trending positive in many areas and a long string of injuries seems to be abating. Our takeaways from a game where they probably deserved a better result:
HOME ON THE RANGE
Easton (Cowboy) Cowan had been tried last month with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, but with both on Toronto’s lengthy sick list, Craig Berube moved the rookie winger up to his default first line with John Tavares and William Nylander.
Great decision, coach.
Cowan was a 200-foot force with four shots on goal, a couple of hits and blocked shots, while following the veteran Tavares’s lead on a steady Toronto press. He patiently dished to Tavares on the tying goal in the third period after the Leafs were down two.
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The kid beat himself up afterwards about missing his moment in OT and having just one goal in 13 games, but what a bonus for the Leafs to have their own youngster adding energy on the ice and the dressing room, in a season where new blood is making headlines around the NHL.
“He’s come a long way,” Tavares praised. “Not just his ability to read the game and make little plays like on my goal – not too quick, in the right place with the right pace in an easy place for me to put it in – but he just seems to be stronger on the puck, absorbing contact.”
JOHNNY ON THE SPOT
Tavares brought the building to life a few times and has factored in the past three Toronto goals with his assist on William Nylander’s winner against St. Louis on Tuesday. He’s now tied with Nylander for most Leaf points at 27 (Nylander’s streak ended at eight games on Thursday) with 21 minutes of ice through overtime and two power play duty.
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That’s despite Berube’s hopes to shorten the 35-year-old’s workload with two centres, Matthews and Nicolas Roy, still out.
“He just wills his way around the ice,” Berube said of trying to describe the Tavares effect. “It was good to have Scott Laughton (the centre back from his own injury) against the Adam Fantilli line to give John a breather.”
Tavares won a draw back to Dakota Mermis on the Leafs’ first goal and won 16 of 23 with Toronto a hair under 70 per cent on faceoffs in the game.
GREAT SCOTT
Speaking of Laughton, he played 17:22 in just his third game this season, was huge on two penalty kills and nearly popped a goal himself.
“You want to be out there battling with the guys instead of feeling helpless,” Laughton said after recovering ffrom a badly bruised foot from a shot block, then an upper body issue. “I was pretty excited this morning, it was a long time coming.”
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Berube started him with Steven Lorentz and Cowan, before flipping the latter with Calle Jarnkrok. That has the makings of a strong line when a six-game road trip starts Saturday in Montreal.
BETTER DAYS AHEAD?
Sitting just three points ahead of the last place Buffalo Sabres in the Atlantic, the Leafs are still just four off the division lead with six teams ahead of them.
“It sucks we lost,” Laughton said. “But we keep rolling. You string together a couple and get some momentum (three overtimes in the past four games) … the parity in this league is so tight, so you can’t wear on yourselves. Keep a positive mindset. I think this (adversity) is good for us.”
Matthews is nearing a return for the road trip, though defencemen Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo are still out. Goalie Joseph Woll is filling in nicely in his return from personal leave with Anthony Stolarz shelved.
Berube could also take solace in a strong forecheck, with aggressive rims and board work that helped the Leafs get behind the Jackets and reach 29 shots. His power play, with Matthews and Knies missing, not only had two early chances, but held the puck through most of the minors.
“We’re defending a lot better and doing a lot of good things,” the coach said. “Things are going in a good direction, we just have to get some healthy bodies back.”
All hands will be needed for the longest road swing of the season.
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