Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube restores Easton Cowan to lineup

Article content

‘Cowboy’ is back in the saddle.

Article content

Easton Cowan’s extended wait to re-join the Maple Leafs’ lineup was to end Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators after he sat almost the calendar month of February, counting the Olympic break. He was on left wing of a re-constructed third line with centre Nicolas Roy and Bobby McMann at the morning skate.

Article content

Article content

The rookie’s absence from the Leafs last three games before the break and the first two since can’t be considered conducive for his development. There was anticipation he’d get back in earlier this week after he centred the first line in the mini-camp with Auston Matthews in Italy.

Coach Craig Berube has alternated between saying Cowan had “lost his swagger” and that he’s recovered it. But the losses to Tampa Bay and Florida where veterans were making mistakes with frequency re-opened the door.

Article content

Article content

Cowan only wanted to look ahead when speaking to the media Saturday morning.

“I’m feeling good and just excited for another opportunity. Hopefully, I bring some juice to the lineup.”

Cowan was diplomatic about how much he really gained by being sidelined so long, insisting the press box vantage could be educational. But it had to frustrate a kid who is used to playing consistanly into spring the past couple of years with the London Knights.

“I’m looking to keep doing what I was, play north and good things will come.”

It does say something about Berube’s faith that Cowan is ready to rock again by inserting him into a Battle of Ontario. Leaf playoff hopes are hanging by a thread and the coach will sit fourth line energy winger Steven Lorentz.

Article content

“We’d won three in a row coming off the break, (injured winger Dakota) Joshua got back and now I feel it’s time to get (Cowan) back,” Berube said. “He obviously needs to play. Going back to the Seattle game (Jan. 29, his last appearance), I just felt he was a little overwhelmed.

“He worked on his game in practice, on power play, the coaches worked with him. And watching a lot from up top is not a bad thing.”

Cowan, who has 17 points in 43 NHL games, was close to eligibility for the club to send him to the AHL Marlies, where some thought he should’ve stayed longer at the start of the season. He might wind up down there in April if the Leafs can’t make up the eight-point gulf that existed before facing the Sens and the Marlies qualify.

“This should be cool, Saturday night, against Ottawa in Toronto, something you grow up thinking about,” Cowan said. “We’re in a push to make the playoffs, I’m going to do all that I can do to bring some positive vibes.”

Lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby

Article content