Saturday, April 5, 2025 – 7:00 PM ET
Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Ohio – Radio: 97.1FM
Opponent’s Blog: Pension Plan Puppets
Toronto Maple Leaves (46-25-4, 96 points, 1st Atlantic, 3rd East)
at
Columbus Blue Jackets (34-41-9, 77 points, 5th Metro, 10th East)
After getting two straight poor defensive and goaltending performances, letting in 11 goals in their last two games, the Blue Jackets find their playoff hopes on life support. Now four points out with two teams to pass, and both the Habs and Rangers heating up, every game is essential the rest of the way. Standing in their way is the Toronto Maple Leaves, who despite leading the Atlantic division have struggled against the Blue Jackets this year.
Position to Watch
Goaltending
Dean Evason became the last head coach to pull his goalie this year on Thursday, yanking Elvis Merzlikins after he slammed his stick on the post following Colorado’s seventh goal. The defense in front of them has been horrible, but Elvis’ .843 save percentage and 5.11 GAA in his last five starts is unplayable. The other option is Daniil Tarasov, who’s been better recently but still has .883 and 3.45 on the season. Regardless of who gets the start, they need to be better against the high-flying Maple Leaves for the Jackets to have a chance.
Jackets Notes
Not much to report at time of writing, but you have to imagine they’ll be lineup changes after the performance Thursday. … The Monsters wrecked the WBS Penguins 7-1 yesterday, which ya love to see. … The Ohio Blue Jackets AAA team is off to the U18 National Championship after beating the Long Island Gulls in overtime in their semifinal.
The Other Bench
The main story out of Toronto is the status of pending UFA Mitch Marner. Despite leading the team in points and his usual defensive excellence, the winger was asked to waive his no trade clause at the deadline. He declined, but there’s been no progress on an extension. … Toronto’s 7-2-1 in their last way, earning pole position in a stacked Atlantic Division race.
Season Series
10/22/24 – TML 2 at CBJ 6
1/22/25 – CBJ 5 at TML 1
4/5/25 – TML at CBJ
Stats
| Toronto | Columbus | |
| 3.25 (9) | GPG | 3.23 (10) |
| 2.92 (16) | GAPG | 3.41 (27) |
| 26.1% (5) | PP% | 19.0% (24) |
| 78.1% (16) | PK% | 75.5% (24) |
| 48.1% (26) | 5v5 Shot Attempt % | 48.6% (23) |
| 48.5% (24) | 5v5 Unblocked Shot Attempt % | 48.9% (21) |
| 9.3% (12) | 5v5 Shooting % | 10.3% (4) |
| .922 (6) | 5v5 Save % | .904 (21) |
| William Nylander, 42 | G Leader | Kirill Marchenko, 31 |
| Mitch Marner, 69 | A Leader | Zach Werenski, 54 |
| Mitch Marner, 93 | P Leader | Zach Werenski, 74 |
| Max Domi, 67 | PIM Leader | Matthieu Olivier, 127 |
| 22-12-3 | Home/Road | 22-10-5 |
| 7-2-1 | Last 10 | 3-6-1 |
Projected Lineups
Columbus Blue Jackets
| Dmitri Voronkov | Sean Monahan | Kirill Marchenko |
| Boone Jenner | Adam Fantilli | Kent Johnson |
| Cole Sillinger | Justin Danforth | Mathieu Olivier |
| Zach Aston-Reese | Sean Kuraly | Luke Kunin |
| Zach Werenski | Dante Fabbro |
| Denton Mateychuk | Ivan Provorov |
| Jack Johnson | Erik Gudbranson |
| Elvis Merzlikins |
| Daniil Tarasov |
Toronto Maple Leaves
| Matthew Knies | Auston Matthews | Mitch Marner |
| Bobby McMann | John Tavares | William Nylander |
| Scott Laughton | Max Domi | Calle Jarnkrok |
| Steven Lorentz | Pontus Holmberg | Nick Robertson |
| Morgan Rielly | Brandon Carlo |
| Oliver Ekman-Larsson | Chris Tanev |
| Simon Benoit | Philippe Meyers |
| Joseph Woll |
| Anthony Stolarz |