There’s no need for preamble, as the Toronto Maple Leafs routed the Montreal Canadiens 7-2 in a comprehensive preseason victory. Scott Laughton led the way with two goals and two assists, Steven Lorentz added two tallies and an assist, while Easton Cowan registered an assist and a plus-four differential in the winning effort.

Toronto may have found its opening night fourth line in Lorentz-Laughton-Cowan, with the latter trying to make the Maple Leafs out of camp. Laughton was initially envisioned as a third-line centre when acquired at last year’s trade deadline, but he’s now cemented his role on the fourth line, while Lorentz’s physicality and puck retrieval skills are qualities that Craig Berube highly values.

It wasn’t just about the opening night fourth line, but let’s face it: for all intents and purposes, it may as well have been. Bobby McMann, Matt Benning and Ryan Tverberg also scored for the Maple Leafs, while Dennis Hildeby made 11 saves on 13 shots.

Scott Laughton set the tone from the outset, opening the scoring on the first shot of the game. It may be the preseason, but we’re not going to start putting qualifiers on Laughton’s output, especially when there’s an express goal to provide some secondary scoring, along with plus-defence this year. Laughton then scored the game’s second goal off the rush, taking a feed from Bobby McMann, flying through the middle of the ice before tucking the puck past Samuel Montembeault. The 31-year-old was the best player on the ice by some distance Thursday, with honourable mentions for McMann, Steven Lorentz and Easton Cowan.

Lorentz was a fixture on the fourth line last season, where he won a roster spot from a professional tryout agreement. He was completely dialled in throughout the game, and used his size and instincts to great effect at the net-front. Lorentz isn’t known to score the prettiest goals and he doesn’t have to, getting his stick on pucks in high-danger areas, while closing down defenders on the forecheck is what he’s there for, and he’s now an essential part of the lineup.

As for Cowan, he may have found his spot in the opening night lineup after all. Cowan is Toronto’s top-ranked prospect and he’s coming off a tour-de-force season with the London Knights, where he won Memorial Cup MVP. In an ideal world, Cowan would be starting his NHL career with top-six minutes, but there’s no harm in providing him with a few NHL games, before returning him to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies as many expect. Regardless of his assignment, Cowan has performed well throughout each preseason game, playing with a renewed confidence, while showing off the high-end skill that places him in coveted territory. For the time being, it appears the Maple Leafs have their fourth line.

Bobby McMann went 24 games without a goal to conclude the 2024-25 campaign. By now, this fact takes over the McMann discourse leading into the season, but it also has to be said that McMann scored 20 goals last year and looked like a permanent fixture in the lineup after a torrid October last year. McMann is an elite skater and he creates so many opportunities when he uses his speed to create separation for himself, and his linemates, which was evident on Laughton’s second goal.

Shooters shot, and sometimes it’s just a matter of confidence after all. McMann walked in and sniped it past Montembeault late in the first period to restore a two-goal advantage. It was the second consecutive game where McMann registered a goal and if he’s found the totality of his offensive game, it bodes well for his chances to maintain his spot alongside John Tavares and William Nylander (both of whom had the night off) on the team’s second line.

It’s been a fascinating camp for Matias Maccelli to say the least. Maccelli appeared to be the favourite to start on the first line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, and he indeed received the first look as Max Domi recovers from a lower-body injury. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube then indicated that he would’ve preferred for Domi to start on the line, if he were healthy. Maccelli, at times during practice sessions, didn’t appear to be keeping pace with Knies and Matthews, but you have to throw stray observations out the window at times, especially in camp.

Maccelli’s playmaking was evident from the outset, for a second consecutive preseason game. He found opportunistic passing lanes, finishing the game with two secondary assists. It’s clear that if Maccelli wants to operate on the first line, his primary responsibility is to get the puck over to Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies with frequency, while operating as the F3 if his linemates get deep into the offensive zone. Knies and Matthews had the night off, but Maccelli’s puck skills and playmaking appear to be back, which may put him in pole position for opening night, even if Berube, at the time of this filing, seems to prefer Domi on the top line.