The Maple Leafs held a practice at the Ford Performance Centre on Friday before travelling to Detroit.<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Auston Matthews<\/a> did not register a shot during 5-on-5 play as Toronto\u2019s top line struggled to gain traction in Wednesday night\u2019s regular season opener against the Montreal Canadiens<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cIt was OK,\u201d Matthews said of his line\u2019s performance. \u201cIt was kind of a sloppier game and not a whole lot of rhythm in general, but a lot that we can get better at and just continue to communicate and take steps in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews\u2019 only shot during the 5-2 victory came late in the third period when he tapped a William Nylander<\/a> area pass into an empty net. <\/p>\n Newcomer Matias Maccelli<\/a>, who is slotting in on the right side of the top line to start the season, did not register a shot while left winger Matthew Knies<\/a> recorded just two. Knies did set up the game-winning goal by Morgan Rielly<\/a> in the third period with Maccelli picking up the second assist. <\/p>\n Shot attempts favoured the Canadiens 10-7 in the 10:31 of ice time that Matthews, Maccelli and Knies played together, per NaturalStatTrick.com. <\/p>\n \u201cI liked some of the shifts they had,\u201d coach Craig Berube<\/a> said. \u201cLike in the second [period] where they had the possession of the puck quite a bit and moved it around and stuff. It\u2019s not always a goal, but just some good possession time and some puck movement was good.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews and Mitch Marner formed a dynamic duo in recent years on Toronto\u2019s top line, but the 102-point winger is now in Vegas and there is no obvious candidate to fill his skates. Maccelli, who was limited to 18 points in 55 games last season with Utah, is getting the first chance and the early returns are mixed. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen they did get pucks back on the forecheck, I think we can hang on to pucks a little bit more,\u201d Berube said. \u201cWe tried a quick play a few times, it got turned over, and we\u2019re out of the zone. I liked the second period, some of the shifts, I want to see more of that with the possession and things like that, but it\u2019s early. They\u2019re going to have to work and find some chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n The work continued at Friday\u2019s practice. <\/p>\n \u201cAuston likes to give and go a lot, you know, quick touches,\u201d Maccelli observed. \u201cKind of noticed that a little more, especially today in practice. We worked on it a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n What is Maccelli looking for? <\/p>\n \u201cEspecially in O-zone, you know, once we get going a little bit, try to open up for a little give and go,\u201d the 24-year-old Finn said. \u201cAnd after that try to get some one-timers, and stuff like that, around the net going.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust moving off the puck,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cI think supporting each other better. I just thought offensively we didn\u2019t have as much time of possession or zone time as we would have liked, but I know we\u2019re all capable of that.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews is traditionally a hot starter. Wednesday\u2019s goal was his 13th in a season-opening game, which tied Alex Ovechkin<\/a> for the most among active players. <\/p>\n Prior to Wednesday\u2019s one-shot performance, Matthews averaged 5.7 shots in his season openers. <\/p>\n \u201cFirst game, it\u2019s not going to be perfect right away,\u201d Matthews stressed. \u201cYou just want to take steps in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Maccelli readily admits he\u2019s never played on a line with this much talent. Matthews, in particular, is a special player with three Rocket Richard Trophies already on his resume not to mention a Hart Trophy. <\/p>\n \u201cYou can put it to his wheelhouse or you can put it a little on the side, it doesn\u2019t really matter,\u201d Maccelli marveled. \u201cHe\u2019ll get it done. <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just building from here.\u201d<\/p>\n After sloppy Leafs opener, Matthews, Maccelli work on give-and-go chemistry Despite the opening night win for the Maple Leafs on Wednesday against the Canadiens, Auston Matthews felt it was ‘kind of a sloppier game,’ but added it left room for improvement for the top line. The key for Matthews, Matthew Knies and Matias Maccelli will be developing chemistry. Maccelli has already noticed Matthews preference for the give-and-go. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Berube initially planned to start Max Domi<\/a> on the top line. There was built-in chemistry between Matthews and Domi from when they played together on a line late in the 2023-24 season. In particular, Matthews liked how their give-and-go game worked. <\/p>\n Berube was reluctant to push Maccelli into a prominent role as he adapted to a new team and rebuilt his confidence following a tough year in Utah. Maccelli finished last season as a healthy scratch. <\/p>\n But an injury to veteran centre Scott Laughton<\/a> led the coach to change course and move Domi to the middle of the third line. Laughton is out week-to-week after blocking a shot with his foot in a pre-season game on Oct. 2. He was spotted wearing a walking boot on Friday. <\/p>\n Berube called Maccelli over for a chat before Friday\u2019s practice. <\/p>\n \u201cI want him to feel more confident,\u201d Berube said. \u201cHe\u2019s a good player. He\u2019s got abilities, so just play with that confidence. Use your skills, use your skill set.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just chatting,\u201d Maccelli said. \u201cHow I was doing, how I felt first game. He just wants me to play with my strengths, but also play hard, work hard. You know, we want to play north in a forecheck game and all that stuff. So just be good at that and then play my game.\u201d<\/p>\n Maccelli is a gifted playmaker, who produced 40 assists during the 2023-24 season. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Toronto went 0\/2 on the power play on Wednesday and surrendered a shorthanded goal. <\/p>\n \u201cThe breakouts were a problem and something we discussed and talked about,\u201d Berube said. <\/p>\n But the focus during power-play reps at Friday\u2019s practice was in-zone movement. <\/p>\n \u201cThe second power play we had, we\u2019re slow, we\u2019re not moving it,\u201d Berube said. \u201cWe\u2019re hanging on to it too long. We got to move it quicker and create some lanes for some shots and some attempts at the net.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews felt the issues at 5-on-5 bled into the man-advantage opportunities. <\/p>\n \u201cI just thought the execution, in general, wasn\u2019t as good as we wanted it to be in our overall game,\u201d he said. \u201cSome puck play and just taking care of it a little bit more. But I definitely think on the power play, it\u2019s execution with our passing and moving it a little bit quicker.\u201d<\/p>\n Berube brought up the fact that the ice wasn\u2019t great at Scotiabank Arena. <\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s an excuse,\u201d the coach quickly added. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to make harder plays in critical situations. I\u2019m not talking about putting it on somebody\u2019s tape, it\u2019s getting the puck out of our zone, getting it deep. There\u2019s those situations, and some of them are just self-inflicted, where we\u2019re trying to beat people, and we shouldn\u2019t be because we\u2019ve got numbers back and we\u2019ve got to make sure we\u2019re doing a good job there.\u201d<\/p>\n Leafs Ice Chips: Power play picks up the pace after slow start to post-Marner era The Maple Leafs’ power play got off to a slow start against the Canadiens and even allowed a short-handed goal in the first period. TSN’s Mark Masters has more on what was discussed at Friday’s practice, where special teams was a focus. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Easton Cowan<\/a> received a call from general manager Brad Treliving earlier this week informing him that he\u2019d be starting the season in the NHL. <\/p>\n \u201cThat was definitely cool,\u201d the 20-year-old winger said. \u201cTold my parents right away. Special moment for sure, but not every day here is guaranteed, so just got to keep working and keep putting good days on good days.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowan was the first skater on the ice ahead of Friday\u2019s practice. <\/p>\n After sitting out the opening game as a healthy scratch, Cowan split reps with Nick Robertson on the third line during Friday\u2019s practice. Cowan also split reps with Robertson on the second power play unit. Robertson played a team low 10:40 on Wednesday. <\/p>\n How close is Cowan to making his NHL debut? <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s close,\u201d Berube assured reporters. \u201cHe\u2019s got a great attitude. He works hard. He had a good practice today. That\u2019s decisions that we have to discuss and make … We\u2019ll see what happens tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowan\u2019s family is on standby and ready to travel to Detroit if they get word that he\u2019s playing. <\/p>\n \u201cIf I find out I\u2019m in, I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll have like 20 to 30 people there, so just being patient,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n Cowan is from Mount Brydges, Ont. which is located between Toronto and Detroit. He noted that a debut in Detroit may prove more convenient for his family. <\/p>\n \u201cIt might be better with the traffic,\u201d he said with a smile. <\/p>\n Treliving made it clear that if Cowan is on the NHL roster he wants him playing in games. <\/p>\n \u201cI love Cowan,\u201d Berube said. \u201cWe all do. He\u2019s going to be a good Leaf, I\u2019ll tell you that. He\u2019s going to be a good hockey player, and he is a good hockey player. But the team\u2019s the most important thing, and we\u2019ve got to make decisions and they don\u2019t always please everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowan is eligible to be sent down to the American Hockey League without clearing waivers, so if he\u2019s not in an NHL game soon that\u2019s his likely destination. The Toronto Marlies will open their season on Friday. <\/p>\n For now, Cowan is soaking up every moment with the Leafs. <\/p>\n \u201cJust being around the guys, it\u2019s been awesome,\u201d the 2023 first-round pick said. \u201cLearning so much. I find every day you show up to the rink, you just learn more and more each and every time. So I\u2019m just trying to really pick everyone\u2019s brain and just try to better myself each and every day.\u201d<\/p>\n Getting a chance to see Matthews up close is a valuable experience by itself. <\/p>\n \u201cJust watching the way he leads on and off the ice, I mean, he\u2019s so dialed in,\u201d Cowan said. \u201cWorks hard in the gym, and then on the ice, he\u2019s special. I mean, you see the plays he makes. Like today in practice, he\u2019s looking inside, (snaps finger) he goes outside like that. So super cool, and just try to learn from him a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n Cowan countdown: Berube still undecided on when Leafs rookie will debut Easton Cowan’s regular season debut will happen eventually, but when it comes, is out of the young forward’s control. Cowan has plenty of family on standby for the big moment and spoke about what he has been soaking up in practice watching players like Auston Matthews put in the work. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Matthews had high praise for his old US National Team Development Program teammate Dylan Larkin<\/a> on Friday. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s always been a guy that I\u2019ve looked up to actually and have a ton of respect for,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cThe way that he goes about his business, his work ethic, has always jumped out at me, and the way he plays the game.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wings will be looking to bounce back after dropping their season opener 5-1 to the Canadiens on Thursday night. Matthews will likely get matched up against Larkin. <\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s a really honest player,\u201d the Leafs captain said. \u201cHe plays both sides of the puck really hard and is a great leader, so I\u2019ve always had a lot of respect for him, you know, knowing him since we were 16, 17 years old and then being able to play with him at different stages in our career.\u201d<\/p>\n Larkin scored a goal and tied for the team lead with five shots on Thursday. <\/p>\n Matthews on ‘really honest player’ Larkin: ‘Always been a guy I’ve looked up to’ Ahead of the Maple Leafs game against the Red Wings on Saturday, Auston Matthews had plenty of praise for Dylan Larkin, a player he has known since his junior days. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Lines at Friday\u2019s practice: <\/p>\n Knies – Matthews – Maccelli<\/p>\n McMann – Tavares – Nylander<\/p>\n Joshua – Domi – Robertson\/Cowan<\/p>\n Lorentz – Roy – Jarnkrok<\/p>\n Blais<\/p>\n McCabe – Tanev<\/p>\n Rielly – Carlo<\/p>\n Benoit – Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n Myers<\/p>\n Stolarz<\/p>\n Primeau<\/p>\n William Nylander, Max Domi & Simon Benoit served meals to hundreds of youths in their visit to Covenant House Toronto, an agency that provides shelter, meals, health services & employment training to homeless, trafficked or at risk youth.<\/p>\n Read more: https:\/\/t.co\/XUL4ubllIy<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/jnKRjioZa5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) October 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Power play units at Friday\u2019s practice: <\/p>\n QB: Rielly<\/p>\n Flanks: Matthews, Nylander<\/p>\n Middle: Tavares<\/p>\n Net front: Knies<\/p>\n QB: Ekman-Larsson<\/p>\n Flanks: Domi, Maccelli<\/p>\n Middle: Robertson\/Cowan<\/p>\n Net front: McMann <\/p>\n