The Columbus Blue Jackets are no strangers to upset as they knocked off the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in four straight games not long ago. Can they overcome a powerful and offensive Toronto Maple Leafs team led by Auston Matthews, John Tavares and Mitch Marner? Some insiders think the Blue Jackets are primed to give Toronto fits.
And for the Maple Leafs, can their goaltending stand up and their offense be potent enough not to be considered a huge disappointment?
Columbus will go with Joonas Korpisalo in net, as per coach John Tortorella at this morning’s media availability.
Game Notes:
The Blue Jackets controlled play early, buzzing in the Maple Leafs zone. That said, there weren’t many shots to show for all their hard work.
With about 2:40 left in the first Autson Matthews ripped one off the crossbar. A few seconds later, Werenski ripped one off the crossbar as well. Ceci got called for a penalty at the end of the first period and the Maple Leafs would go into the second short-handed. Shots finished 11-8 in favor of Toronto. As Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston noted, “That felt like a tight and tense 20 minutes even in an empty building.”
In the second, it was more of the Blue Jackets smothering the Leafs with chances at both ends. The game remained tied at 0-0. The goalies were stealing the show – Columbus outshot the Maple Leafs – but the Maple Leafs seem to be figuring out the Blue Jackets defense a bit. The Maple Leafs Matthews was getting a lot of time in an attempt to break the scoreless tie.
As the third began and after great pressure by the Maple Leafs, the Blue Jackets finally break out and an easy one gets by Andersen. 1:05 into the third, Cam Atkinson opened the scoring to give the Blue Jackets a 1-0 lead.
Just over seven minutes into the third period, the Maple Leafs kept the pressure on but the Blue Jackets seem always ready to pick up a loose puck and go the other way. It’s clear the Blue Jackets remain dangerous on the turnover. The Blue Jackets continued to play hard throughout the third, frustrating the Leafs. With 19 seconds left Alexander Wennberg scores an empty-net goal – for a 2-0 win for the Blue Jackets.
It’s clear the Maple Leafs – who need to figure out how to play differently – need their top lines to do more. The stars of the Leafs were supposed to be the difference-makers and didn’t get the job done for the Maple Leafs in Game 1.
