Auston Matthews showcased his scoring prowess with two goals and an assist, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. William Nylander contributed a goal and two assists, while John Tavares and Martin Jones played pivotal roles in the win.
Matthews wasted no time, netting his 27th goal of the season in the opening period, capitalizing on a precise feed from Mitchell Marner. The Blue Jackets responded in the second period, as Justin Danforth converted a pass from Johnny Gaudreau to level the score at 1-1.
Tavares then displayed his offensive skills, breaking the tie with a remarkable goal, spinning around Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson to beat Daniil Tarasov. Matthews continued his scoring streak with a power-play goal, notching his league-leading 28th goal of the season.
Nylander sealed the victory with a short-handed goal in the third period, extending his impressive 11-game point streak. The Leafs’ success was further highlighted by Martin Jones, who made 27 saves, maintaining his perfect 3-0-0 record on the road this season.
However, the game was not without concern, as Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly left the ice with an abdominal injury in the first period, requiring further evaluation at a local hospital. Despite this, Toronto’s win marked a significant rebound, avoiding a third consecutive loss and securing their fifth win in six trips to Columbus.