3 Takeaways from Maple Leafs 2-1 OT Win Over the Flyers
For most of the game, it looked like the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to fizzle one out. Their power play, which had been clicking lately, wasn’t firing — two-man-advantage chances without a shot on goal, for example. The Flyers looked content to clog the neutral zone, keep things low-event, and ride the one goal they scored in the second period to victory.
Then, when the Maple Leafs went down two men on the penalty kill in the middle of the third, it looked like the game was over. But Scott Laughton jumped in on a short-handed breakaway to tie it, and Easton Cowan finished it off in overtime.
Here are three takeaways from a messy, but essential, win.
Takeaway 1: The Maple Leafs Won a Game They Didn’t Control — and That’s Progress
This wasn’t a game where Toronto dictated the pace. Philadelphia had long stretches in which they clogged lanes, disrupted the rhythm, and forced the Leafs into uncomfortable shifts. The Flyers got the better of the high-danger chances, and Toronto didn’t exactly roll four lines of offence.
And yet, the Maple Leafs stayed patient. They didn’t panic when down 1–0. They didn’t chase the game or open themselves up trying to force scoring chances. They played a quieter, more structured game, trusting that opportunities would come. In past seasons, games like this often slipped away because the Leafs felt the need to manufacture offence. This time, they didn’t. They accepted the kind of game it was and made it work.
Takeaway 2: The Maple Leafs’ Depth and Details Mattered More Than Star Power
This wasn’t a night for Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, or John Tavares to dominate the box score — and that’s the point. Toronto’s goals came from Scott Laughton and Easton Cowan. That’s huge in a 2–1 game.
Laughton’s night was textbook. Beyond scoring against his former team, he owned the faceoff circle — 19 of 20 draws won. That’s game-changing, especially in tight games where possession counts. Cowan, playing under 14 minutes, chipped in a goal, threw a couple of hits, and stayed out of trouble. That’s the kind of clean, valuable contribution you want from depth players.
Takeaway 3: Calm Maple Leafs Goaltending Changed the Feel of the Game
Dennis Hildeby wasn’t bombarded with shots, but he made the saves that mattered. The Flyers’ chances could swing the game on a bad rebound or misread. Hildeby didn’t allow it.
His calm presence kept the Leafs composed late, rather than gripping their sticks and chasing goals. Combine that with steady defensive minutes from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Troy Stecher, and Toronto protected a one-goal game without descending into chaos.
The Big Picture for the Maple Leafs
This wasn’t a pretty win. It wasn’t dominant. But it was mature. The Maple Leafs leaned on depth, details, and patience to grind out a win. These are the kind of games that quietly matter, especially as the schedule tightens and every point counts.