Why playoffs are Easton Cowan’s time to shine with Marlies

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Easton Cowan’s favourite time of year is here.

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“The weather is changing, the Blue Jays start playing, a lot of good vibes at the rink,” he said on Sunday after the Toronto Marlies prepped for the American Hockey League playoffs with a 4-2 win over the Laval Rocket at the Coca-Cola Coliseum.

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Those goosebumps translate to the ice where the Maple Leafs’ top rookie forward begins what he hopes is another long playoff run after two incredible springs with the London Knights stretched into consecutive Memorial Cup appearances.

And while the Leafs crashed out with a seven-game losing streak after not qualifying in the NHL, Cowan couldn’t say no to using his farm-team eligibility for a season extension. The Marlies’ weekend back-to-back wins over North Division-leading Laval saw Cowan get a goal, an assist and first-star honours Saturday, then survive some rough stuff on Sunday.

He says the post-season rhythm is an easy one for him to adopt.

“You’re either playing, practising or taking a day off and right back at it,” he said.

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And there’ll be no break for the Marlies. Sunday’s result became moot before the third period when the Cleveland Monsters also won, edging Toronto for third place and the coveted first-round bye. It forces Toronto into a best-of-three against Rochester starting here Wednesday.

Cowan joined a handful of late-season Leafs demoted after Thursday’s locker cleanout — forwards Jacob Quillan, Luke Haymes, Michael Pezzetta, defenceman William Villeneuve and goalie Artur Akhtymanov. All played on the weekend, Cowan and Haymes assisting on Dakota Mermis’ opening-minute goal Sunday.

“Two wins, good for me to get some chem going here,” Cowan added. “It’s been a crazy couple of days.”

He was also slammed to the ice on his back by Luke Tuch in the course of the Rocket skater’s holding call, but some abuse was expected in his AHL debut with Laval, one of the league’s most physical teams.

“Cowan is a great guy for wanting to come down here and play with us,” said Pezzetta, who had an empty-net goal Sunday. “(Laval) has guys who like to run around a bit, but (Cowan) is smart and can get out of the way.

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“He’s a top player and guys will take runs at him, especially down here. It’s something we’ll deal with when we get to the playoffs.”

Since the Buffalo Sabres snapped up most of Rochester’s top talent for NHL playoff insurance, the Marlies could conceivably be facing Laval to be the post-season kings of the North.

Marlies coach John Gruden is not only thrilled to have Cowan, but all of the Leafs. Quillan’s two points Sunday tied Logan Shaw for the team season lead at 54. Forward Bo Groulx’s NHL waiver lifeline was up before the others returned and he ends his season with 52 points, behind Shaw (54) and Alex Nylander (53).

Now, Gruden must think of putting out his best possible playoff lineup following the season-long developmental grid.

“Winning is developing, too,” he agreed. “Me and (general managers) Ryan Hardy and Mike Dixon will put these guys in positions to succeed.

“We’ve now played with this lineup a couple of games. They should understand their linemates and how we want to play.

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Playoffs at any level is exciting. Cowan and Quillian have brought more energy into our room, Jacob’s now at a different confidence level (after 23 Leafs games) and Cowan makes plays few others can and has been a winner at the junior level. He knows what it takes.”

Akhtyamov, whose 37-game season included three games with the Leafs, made 32 saves Sunday after Dennis Hildeby’s 35 the day before. Gruden has yet to name a Game 1 starter for Wednesday.

One Marlie not slowed by the AHL grind is captain Shaw. With his 72nd game Sunday, he became the first Marlie to play the entire regular season since Connor Brown in 2014-15.

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