Maple Leafs: 3 Things to Feel Good About a Colorado Win

There are wins you enjoy because your team played a perfect game. Then there are wins you enjoy because your team found a way to beat a really good opponent, even though they made you nervous for most of the night.

Saturday's 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche was more of the second kind. The Toronto Maple Leafs gave up chances, spent too much time defending, and had a few moments when I wondered what exactly they were doing out there. But they also gave fans three pretty good reasons to feel encouraged.

1. William Nylander Is Having a Heck of a Start.

Five points. Two goals and three assists. That's quite a night's work against one of the league’s better teams. Nylander was making things happen all over the ice. His power-play goal, his second goal to tie the game, and his passing on the other scoring chances showed just how much offence he can create.

Remember all the talk last season about whether Toronto should move him? I'm not sure what else Willie has to do to remind us what an incredibly talented player he is. Sometimes we get so caught up in contracts and trade possibilities that we forget to appreciate the player right in front of us. It’s great to see him thrive under a new coach and system.

2. Easton Cowan Keeps Giving Us Reasons to Watch.

Cowan scored the go-ahead goal on a one-timer from a Morgan Rielly pass. It was his third goal of the season and his second game-winning goal. What I like is that Cowan isn't just hanging around waiting for something good to happen. He's involved, he's willing to get into the fight, and he's finding ways to contribute. He sees the ice better than some people give him credit for.

Young players need opportunities, but they also need to do something with them. Cowan is doing that. Let's give him some room to grow instead of dragging his name into every second trade discussion.

3. Nick Paul Looks Like a Terrific Addition.

Paul picked up two assists, but his game went beyond the numbers. He played with some weight, got involved physically, and helped Toronto compete against a fast Colorado team.

That's valuable. Not every player needs to score 30 goals to make a difference. Sometimes you need a veteran who works, wins battles, and makes life uncomfortable for the opposition. If that attitude rubs off on a few younger players, all the better.

What's the Big Picture?

Sergei Bobrovsky also earned his first win as a Maple Leaf, and the penalty kill came through when Toronto needed it. The defensive game still needs work. Nobody should pretend otherwise. But the Maple Leafs went into Colorado and found a way to win. Nathan MacKinnon is a really good player, and sometimes he beats really good opponents.

I'll take that. There are things to fix, but there are also things worth enjoying. We don't always have to wait until a team is perfect before we appreciate a good night.