Surprise Healthy Scratch Projected for Leafs vs. Penguins: Cowan Promoted

It was a long-time coming, but 20-year-old rookie Easton Cowan notched his first NHL goal on Saturday night.

Since being scratched on October 20th, to 'reset', as Berube had put it, Cowan has looked very good and registered 3 points in five games.

At Monday's morning skate, Cowan, who has previously found some success with Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua, was seen skating alongside John Tavares on the second line, joined by William Nylander, who confirmed he would return to the lineup against Pittsburgh.

Berube gave the rookie a significant one on Monday as well, bumping him up to the top power play unit. When the club began working on special teams, it was Cowan, not Matthew Knies, that took reps on the first unit.

Struggling, and ranked 29th in the league, the Leafs are looking for a spark with the extra man, and the hope is that Cowan's playmaking can create it.

As for the rest of the lineup, Nick Robertson will get another game next to Auston Matthews and Knies on the top line. Since being elevated to the top line, Robertson has made the most of his opportunity, tallying four points in two games and five in his last four.

Unfortunately, things are trending in the opposite direction for Bobby McMann, who found himself skating as an extra during practice. Berube was non-committal to scratching McMann, but given that he hasn't registered a point since October 14th, it may be time for him to get a reset.

Instead, Matias Maccelli skated with Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua, while Sammy Blais remained with Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok.

In light of Chris Tanev's scary incident on Saturday that saw him stretchered off, the Leafs recalled Dakota Mermis. However, it will be Philippe Myers that draws in to replace Tanev on the third pair with Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

The Leafs will be in tough on Monday against the Penguins, but hopefully they will begin their four-game homestand with a win.