The Maple Leafs extended their lead to 2-0 while on a power play at 11:55. Morgan Rielly knocked down a waist-high clearing attempt at the blue line before finding Jack Roslovic at the left face-off dot. Roslovic’s shot then produced a rebound off Sorokin’s left pad, which Cowan jammed in near the right post.
“That was just a skilled guy making a skilled play,” Stolarz said. “And kudos to Roslovic after Rielly got it to him, and he shoots for that POP (pass off pad), and it goes back to the selflessness. I think guys are understanding that we can create some offense. You may not get the goal, but you’re going to get a nice assist, and kudos to Cowan just standing right there. Right place at the right time.”
Cowan is beginning his second full NHL season after playing in 66 games (11 goals, 18 assists) in 2025-26. The 21-year-old also played for the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League playoffs last season, putting up 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 22 games to help them win the Calder Cup.
“It did a lot (for me),” Cowan said. “Anytime you are playing pro in the playoffs, it helps a lot. So, I have a lot of confidence heading into this year, and it was great to get that win, for sure.”
Stolarz kept it a two-goal game at 6:38 of the third period when he reached back with his right pad to stop Anthony Duclair’s shot from the side of the net.
“Probably a half scorpion-type save,” Stolarz said. “He just kept dragging it and dragging it and you’re just trying to do whatever it takes to make that save.”
Heineman did cut it to 2-1 with his short-handed goal at 14:09. He beat William Nylander down the ice, received a saucer pass from Bo Horvat, and chipped the puck past Stolarz.
“When we stopped turning pucks over and simplified our game a lot and got pucks behind them and started going to work, we were a lot more successful,” Horvat said.
NOTES: The game featured the first matchup between the past two No. 1 picks in the NHL Draft: Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (2025) and Maple Leafs forward Gavin McKenna (2026). Schaefer had three shots while playing a game-high 27:45. McKenna had one shot in 15:32.
