Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ First Period Offered a Glimpse of What’s Possible

The Maple Leafs built a 3-0 lead against Vegas, then let it slip away. But the first period offered a glimpse of what this team can be.

by
Old Prof
October 9, 2026

Losing in a 4-3 shootout to Mitch Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights stings, especially after a 3-0 first-period start. But look at what the Toronto Maple Leafs did in the first period, because it was a glimpse of what this group is supposed to be.

Jack Roslovic scored 40 seconds in. Not even two minutes later, Easton Cowan was in alone after a blocked shot sent the puck up ice, and he made it 2-0. Then Darren Raddysh stepped into a 96-mile-an-hour blast to make it 3-0, with Gavin McKenna picking up the primary assist. Vegas didn’t have a shot on net until deep into the period. Toronto had nine shots by the time Raddysh scored.

The First Period Was Good News. The Rest of the Game? Not so Much

That’s a lot of good news packed into one period. Roslovic, the guy with the long history of clicking next to elite players, scored on his first shift of real note. Cowan is playing like someone who’s earned a bigger role. He was moved up to the top line for this game. Raddysh is doing exactly what Chayka signed him to do. That’s shoot the puck hard from the point.

McKenna, one game after scoring his first goal, set one up. He’s been having a rough time in the NHL, and a night like this might help. Marchenko also scored in the shootout and is slowly getting comfortable with his new team.

Now, the fair part. Toronto went back to sleep after that first period. The second was a mess defensively, and Vegas got a penalty shot after Rielly took Eichel down on a breakaway. That’s the kind of lapse a new coach has to clean up.

If the Maple Leafs Can Play Like This for a Period, They Can Do It for a Game

But a team that can play like that for 20 minutes can do it again. This isn’t a roster that lacks skill. It’s a roster that needs to learn how to keep its foot on the gas for 60. That’s a coaching and habits problem, and those are fixable in a way that a lack of talent never is.

One point in the standings from a game where they led 3-0 isn’t what anyone wanted. But if you’re looking for reasons to believe, start with that first period. The Maple Leafs know what it looks like now. They just need to do it for longer.