Easton Cowan's Big Goal, But What Comes Next?
Easton Cowan finally found his groove at exactly the right time. After being held off the scoresheet in the first two games of the Calder Cup Finals, Cowan delivered the game's only goal on Tuesday night as the Toronto Marlies beat the Chicago Wolves 1-0. The win puts the Marlies one victory away from capturing the second Calder Cup championship in franchise history.
The goal showed what Easton Cowan was capable of.
It was a classic Cowan moment. He didn't force anything. He didn't try to do too much. He simply got a chance early in the second period and buried it, sending the sold-out crowd at Coca-Cola Coliseum into a frenzy.
But as important as the goal was, I don't think that's the most interesting part of this story. The real story is the tension that exists whenever a young player is on the verge of winning something significant. Everybody loves talking about the goal that puts a team one win away. Nobody talks as much about how difficult that final win can be.
Cowan knows that better than most 21-year-olds.
Related: Marlies: A Different Team Than the One We Saw All Season.
Cowan has been a winner wherever he's been.
Before joining the Maple Leafs organization, he won back-to-back Ontario Hockey League championships with the London Knights. He's already experienced the highs of playoff hockey and understands that closing out a series is often harder than getting the lead in the first place.
That's why his comments after the game stood out. He wasn't celebrating as if the job were finished. He talked about staying even, staying positive, and riding the wave. That's veteran talk from a young player who has already learned that championships aren't won when you're up in a series. They're won when you finish it.
In some ways, that's been Cowan's entire season. He spent most of the year proving he belonged in the NHL, putting up 29 points in 66 games as a rookie with the Maple Leafs. Now he's back with the Marlies and helping drive a championship run. Every step seems to bring a new challenge, and every time the pressure rises, he looks a little more comfortable.
Cowan’s play should have Maple Leafs fans paying attention.
The goal on Tuesday night was important. The confidence boost was important. But what happens next may tell us even more about the player Cowan is becoming.
The Marlies are one win away from a championship. Cowan is one win away from adding another title to a growing resume. The easy part was scoring the goal. Now comes the hard part: finishing the job.