Craig Berube makes lineup change as desperation sets in for Maple Leafs.

Desperation has to be setting in for the Toronto Maple Leafs with their season rapidly slipping away from them and, on Saturday, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube made a significant lineup change as he looks to light a spark under his team.

After two ugly losses coming out of the Olympic break, Berube has made the decision to go back to Maple Leafs rookie forward Easton Cowan in spite of the fact that Cowan has struggled to maintain a consistent spot in the Maple Leafs lineup this season.

Berube explained his decision when speaking to the media after the team's morning skate, suggesting that it had more to do with doing right by the player than anything else.

"I just feel like it's time to get him back in now," said Berube. "I don't want him sitting out. He needs to play. He’s a young kid, he’s a good player. Taking him out of the lineup, going back to his Seattle game, I felt like he was just a little overwhelmed."

The Maple Leafs are of course hoping that Cowan will be a significant part of their future and it may be in their best interest to prioritize the player at this stage of the season, with the playoffs seeming like a distant hope.

Here is how the Leafs looked ahead of their Battle of Ontario against the Ottawa Senators later tonight:

Knies-Matthews-Domi

Maccelli-Tavares-Nylander

Cowan-Roy-McMann

Joshua-Laughton-Robertson

Rielly-Carlo

McCabe-Stecher

Benoit-Ekman-Larsson

Woll