Happy Friday everyone.

Last night the Leafs played in Montréal, and it was an interesting game. Very Scott Laughton in the first period:

And a little Bobby McMann:

And then Laughton's new best friend scored with his skate off of Laughton's shot, and he like that so he scored one with his stick too.

In all seriousness, this line of Lorentz - Laughton - Cowan looks NHL-ready. But it would require some roster shakeups to happen.

By the third period, Matt Benning was padding the score (with the Laughton line), and the Habs looked like a team that can only play power play.

More talk ensued about Cowan making the team as part of this fourth line.

Ryan Tverberg got a goal. Dennis Hildeby played the full game. The Habs barely played hockey at five-on-five. The final score was 7-2.

It wasn't all fun and games and some Leafs grinders trying to do power plays – although that was pretty funny.

Nothing stood out at the time as the cause.

Oh, this turned up while I was looking for goals...

Barkov to get evaluated for injury sustained at Panthers practice | NHL.com
Captain helped off ice favoring right leg; Florida without injured forwards Tkachuk, Nosek
NHL logoNHLdotcom
Benn to miss start of season for Stars with collapsed lung | NHL.com
Forward to have surgery, will be reevaluated in 4 weeks
NHL logoNHLdotcom
Why Calle Jarnkrok is finally enjoying camp despite uncertain future
So what if Calle Jarnkrok finds himself on the NHL bubble for the first time in a dozen years? At least he’s healthy and having fun. Luke Fox tells us what that could mean for the Maple Leafs.
Sportsnet.caLuke Fox

Discussion around Cowan making the team here:

- TSN
Bryan Hayes, Jamie McLennan and Frank Corrado are joined by TSN Hockey Insiders Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston to discuss Easton Cowan playing in his third straight preseason game, is there room on the Maple Leafs for both Cowan and Nick Robertson and the futures of David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok.
TSN

(Waivers, though) The video includes some straight talk about the excess forwards that the Leafs can't trade and what they might have to do about that.

The Leafs do not post their camp schedule, but with a game on Saturday, I'm not sure they'll do much today. Have a good day, everyone.

From The Branches