When looking at the schedule, you knew it would be hard for the Blue Jackets to hold onto a wild card spot. After dropping their game against the Avalanche, the Blue Jackets desperately needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Unfortunately, a mix of average goaltending, ill-timed turnovers, and good play by the Toronto defense led to another loss.
1st Period
The game was fast-paced from the initial faceoff. The Jackets owned the scoring chances early, but Elvis was forced to make two saves on dangerous shots. Fantilli’s legs were moving in his first couple of shifts. He created space in the offensive zone and also made a nice back-check to stymie a Toronto two-on-one.
Toronto went up 1-0 when Werenski turned the puck over off the skate of a forechecking Maple Leaf. Nick Robertson put it through traffic, off the post, and in.
TOR Goal 1-0: Robertson (Holmberg) 10:03
Jenner drew a cross-check to give the Jackets their first power play. They managed to generate a few shots and showed good puck movement, but nothing dangerous got through to Stolarz.
It wasn’t a bad period by any means for the Jackets. They actually held a slight advantage in both CF% and xGF%. One bad turnover ended up being the difference.
2nd Period
Elvis made a save on a Knies semi-breakaway less than a minute into the second. That’s a big save when you are down a goal.
Kuraly and Lorentz dropped the mitts after a shoving match in front of the net. Both got a few blows in before Kuraly got the takedown. Kuraly wanted a penalty, and it’s easy to see why. Lorentz took down Kuraly with a cross-check (interference or cross-check, pick one) and then initiated the fight (instigator). However, the officials decided to swallow their whistles.
Robertson got his second of the night off another Columbus turnover. He beat Elvis five-hole after a pass from Domi.
TOR Goal 2-0: Robertson (Domi) 12:28
Again, the Jackets weren’t playing poorly. Through 60 minutes, they led the Leafs in xGF% 1.36-0.87 in all situations. Credit to Toronto for clogging the slot and making it difficult for Columbus to center the puck in the slot.
3rd Period
The Leafs all but put the game away 1:11 into the third period. Elvis got slightly out of position, and Nylander immediately took advantage.
TOR Goal 3-0: Nylander (Rielly, Carlo) 1:11
Fabbro and Knies both went to the box for roughing after getting into a post-whistle kerfuffle. During the 4-on-4, Nylander definitely put the game away. After Elvis made a great save on Matthews, Nylander drove through the slot and went far side on a moving Merzlikins.
TOR Goal 4-0: Nylander (Rielly, Matthews) 4:21
Olivier and Benoit went at it halfway through the period. It was largely uneventful, but Olivier definitely got in the better punches.
Elvis was called for a bogus tripping penalty when Knies went hard to the net. Even the SportsNet commentators said it was a bad call. It’s nice to see the officials’ home cooking even at 4-0.
Matthews made it 5-0 on a delayed penalty.
TOR Goal 5-0: Matthews (Marner) 16:27
Final Thoughts
Another shutout. The boom or bust offense down the stretch has been head-scratching.
Elvis wasn’t horrible in this game, but he also wasn’t as good as he needed to be. You can’t blame him for the lack of scoring, but you can argue that he could have had two or three of the goals he let in.
Toronto successfully held Columbus’s top line in check. Despite losing in CF%, Toronto won the high-danger scoring chance battle 6-1 with Monahan, Marchenko, and Johnson on the ice.
The Canadiens are now four points up on the Jackets, who no longer hold a game in hand. With only seven games left, the playoffs seem out of reach without a miracle. Still, the Jackets can do their part by trying to turn this ship around.
Up Next
The Jackets are back at it in Ottawa on Sunday evening. The puck drops at 5:00 PM EDT.