Leafs Fall to Blue Jackets as Scoring Momentum Stalls

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered Wednesday night’s matchup against the Columbus Blue Jackets looking like the better team early on, dominating play in the first period and outshooting Columbus 15-7. Despite their strong start, goaltending proved to be the difference as Elvis Merzlikins outshined Toronto’s Denis Hildeby in net, leading to a 5-1 Blue Jackets victory.

Key Moments and Highlights

Merzlikins Outduels Hildeby

The Leafs, accustomed to outscoring their goaltending woes, couldn’t muster the offense to bail themselves out this time. Auston Matthews scored Toronto’s lone goal midway through the third period, but by then, the deficit was too great. Merzlikins was a wall in net, frustrating the Leafs’ shooters throughout the night.

Matthews had a notable exchange with Merzlikins during the game, resulting in both players receiving matching penalties after swapping sticks in a lighthearted yet competitive moment.

AHL Shake-Up: Murray Called Up

Following Hildeby’s tough outing, head coach Craig Berube made a decisive move, sending Hildeby back to the AHL and calling up Matt Murray to serve as Toronto’s third-string goaltender. Murray’s stellar play with the Marlies, including the league’s second-best save percentage, made this an inevitable decision.

Reaves Drops the Gloves

Ryan Reaves finally notched his first fight of the season, bringing energy to the Leafs bench. Though Reaves stumbled initially, he recovered to make it a competitive tilt, with Leafs fans calling it a draw. After the game Captain Auston Matthews called out fans for not getting loud enough after this Heavyweight tilt.

Matthews on the crowd after the Reaves fight:

“I would like a little more energy from the crowd after that, I thought it was a little quiet tonight, especially after two guys like that go at it. But it was a great moment for him.” @sdpnsports pic.twitter.com/qipitqxNEL

— Jesse Blake (@JesseBlake) January 23, 2025

Scoring Summary

Adam Fantilli opened the scoring late in the first period with a shorthanded goal over Hildeby’s left shoulder. The 6’7” goaltender likely should have made the stop if he had stayed upright, and the goal seemed to deflate Toronto’s momentum. Columbus extended their lead in the second period with goals from James van Riemsdyk and Fantilli, who showcased his star potential in front of a hometown crowd. In the third period, Luca Del Bel Belluz made it 4-0 before Auston Matthews finally got Toronto on the board at 9:22. Fantilli capped off his magical night with an empty-netter, completing a three-goal performance and solidifying the win for Columbus.

Strategic Gambles

Berube made a bold move, pulling Hildeby with nearly nine minutes left in the game while trailing 4-1. Though unconventional, the early goalie pull reflected a strong effort to spark a comeback—a move many Leafs fans will respect, even if it didn’t pay off.

What’s Next?

The Leafs will look to rebound on Saturday in the Battle of Ontario as they face the Ottawa Senators. Can they get back on track and recapture their scoring magic? Stay tuned for the Maple Leaf Chronicle pregame preview for all the details.

Go Leafs Go!