TORONTO — In a dominant performance, William Nylander and Nick Robertson each netted two goals as the Toronto Maple Leafs triumphed over the Columbus Blue Jackets with a final score of 5-0 on Saturday night. This victory marks Toronto’s fourth consecutive win.
Anthony Stolarz was formidable in the net, achieving his second shutout of the season by stopping 27 shots, contributing to his career total of 10 shutouts. Auston Matthews also added to the scoreboard, and Morgan Rielly chipped in with two assists.
For the Blue Jackets, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins managed 22 saves but faced challenges when assisting his team with puck control.
An early turning point in the game came when Merzlikins mishandled the puck, facilitating Nick Robertson’s opening goal halfway through the first period, setting the tone for the Maple Leafs’ dominance.
A significant achievement of the night was accomplished by Toronto’s Chris Tanev. The defenseman blocked two shots in the first period, breaking the franchise record for blocks in a season, previously held by Carl Gunnarsson’s 176 blocks in the 2013-14 season.
The Blue Jackets’ current standings have them trailing six points behind the Montreal Canadiens in pursuit of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have secured a playoff spot for the ninth consecutive season, boasting a lead in the Atlantic Division as they approach the end of the regular season with six games remaining.
Looking ahead, Columbus will face the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night, while Toronto will travel to face the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night.