The Maple Leafs finally got into the win column, edging the Islanders 2-1, and Jim Hiller liked plenty of what he saw beyond the final score.
There were stretches when the game looked connected and others when it slipped away from that, but Hiller said the finish mattered just as much as the style points. He pointed to the blocked shots and the late desperation as the kind of details that make a hard-earned win feel worthwhile.
“That type of a win” was the phrase that kept coming back. Hiller said the easy ones are nice, but the grind-it-out kind carry their own satisfaction.
One of the biggest reasons for the result was the work of the Leafs’ bottom six. Hiller said the staff had discussed the third line collaboratively and decided to give that group a tougher matchup than they had in the opener. The response was strong enough that, in his words, “they led us.”
Easton Cowan was another major talking point after another eye-catching night. Hiller said he didn’t come into camp with a firm read on Cowan, but the young winger has clearly made an impression since then. The skating and confidence stand out, but Hiller kept coming back to the same trait: determination.
He said Cowan is early to the rink, serious about the process, and already showing habits that suggest he’s on the right track. “I just like his trajectory and how mentally he really wants it,” Hiller said. “He’s an exciting young player.”
Hiller also praised Anthony Stolarz, saying whatever he’s done to open the season has been “outstanding.” He noted Bob’s strong relationship with Stolarz and suggested that comfort level may be helping too, adding that Bob was thrilled with how he played.
On the defensive side, Hiller said the Leafs have done a good job limiting danger at five-on-five and keeping odd-man rushes down over the last couple of games. He also credited the team’s overall work rate, saying the numbers have been there and the pressure has made life difficult for opponents.
He said Matthew Schaefer was not easy to contain, even if the Leafs limited the damage. Hiller also thought Gavin McKenna was better, saying the young player took a step forward and was most dangerous on the power play. He nearly picked up his first assist and had three or four notable plays.
Bo Groulx got a positive review as well. Hiller said he thought Groulx did well, and he lumped in Paul’s line and Blueger’s line as major contributors. Those groups played more than they did in the previous game and were asked to handle penalty-killing duties, which Hiller said made them an important part of the win.
The second-unit power play delivered too, and Hiller was quick to highlight Morgan Rielly’s role in making it happen. He called it a big play from Rielly, then praised Roslovic for firing the puck hard and low without overthinking it. Easton Cowan was in the right spot for the finish.
Hiller said he liked the goal itself and thought the first unit could take something from that approach: less searching, more directness, and a quicker trigger when the chance is there.
For Hiller, though, the broader takeaway was simple. The first win felt good because it came with effort, resilience, and enough of the right details to make the result stick.
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Knies agent, Matt Frederico, made clear he was frustrated with the way things were handled, arguing that the player needed clarity about whether Toronto actually saw him as part of its plans. The contract extension Knies signed did not include trade protection, which gave the Maple Leafs the flexibility to make the move and left an ugly question hanging over the franchises approach to one of its younger pieces. [Read more 🡒]