- Easton Cowan scored with 12 seconds left to lift the Marlies past Cleveland 3-2 in Game 5
- Toronto reaches the AHL Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2018-19
- Read below for the video, the highlights, and what’s next for the Maple Leafs prospect
Easton Cowan picked his moment.
Toronto’s top forward prospect buried the game-winner with 12 seconds left in regulation Sunday, sending the Marlies past the Cleveland Monsters 3-2 in a do-or-die Game 5 of the AHL North Division Final:
Cleveland led for most of the night, but captain Logan Shaw tied things up with a one-timer 4:30 into the third. From there the Monsters had a few looks of their own before Toronto found its closer.
On the winner, Jacob Quillan dug the puck out from behind the Cleveland net and threw a blind backhand to the slot for Vinni Lettieri, who fanned on two attempts before it trickled to Cowan at the side of the crease. The 21-year-old slammed it home.
Take a look at the highlights:
Cowan’s marker was his second goal of the series and pushed him to four goals and eight points across the Calder Cup playoffs. It capped a chippy series that included Dakota Mermis taking a beer to the head and chugging it back in Game 4.
This is Toronto’s first trip to the third round since 2018-19, when Sheldon Keefe was running the bench. They open the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final on Wednesday against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, who hammered Springfield 8-1 in their own decider.
Big moments are starting to pile up for Cowan. He flashed his NHL potential with the big club this season and now he’s stacking up clutch playoff goals at this level. Toronto has plenty to figure out this offseason, but Cowan’s stock isn’t going anywhere but up.
