It didn't take long for Easton Cowan to make a major impact on the OHL championship series.
The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect had a career-high five points (one goal, four assists) as his London Knights crushed the visiting Oshawa Generals 8-1 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday.
It was the most points by a Knights player in a playoff game since 2016 when current Leafs star Mitch Marner and Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers each had five in a contest.
Named the OHL's most outstanding player for the regular season, Cowan has continued his strong play in the playoffs.
Cowan now has eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 16 playoff games, putting him second in the post-season scoring race.
The Leafs picked the native of Mount Brydges, Ont., in the first round (28th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Oliver Bonk, son of ex-NHLer Radek Bonk and a first-round Philadelphia Flyers pick in 2023, and Ruslan Gazizov led the Knights with two goals apiece in Game 1.
The Knights host Game 2 against the Generals on Saturday.
The winner of the series goes to the Memorial Cup in Saginaw, Mich.
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