In a high-scoring NHL game, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Toronto Maple Leafs delivered an action-packed match with the Leafs emerging victorious with a final score of 5-4. The game saw a flurry of goals, with the Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli scoring his 10th goal of the season to tie the game at 5-5 with just 6:14 left in the third period, before the Leafs secured the win. The Leafs' Ilya Samsonov faced a challenging night, conceding four goals from just 11 shots at one point. The game also featured physical play, including an altercation between the Blue Jackets' Erik Gudbranson and the Leafs' Simon Benoit, with Gudbranson coming out on top in the ensuing fight. The Blue Jackets' power play capitalized with a goal by Voronkov, while the Leafs' power play also proved effective with John Tavares tipping in a shot and William Nylander scoring twice, including a remarkable goal from a tight angle and the game-winning tip-in. The Blue Jackets' Cole Sillinger and Kent Johnson also contributed to the scoreline, with the team demonstrating resilience despite trailing at various points in the game. The game was described as 'crazypants' due to the back-and-forth nature of the scoring and the intense competition between the two teams. In other NHL action, the Anaheim Ducks went to their first power play late in the game and Timo Meier scored in overtime to secure the second point for New Jersey.
#CBJ tie the game at five as Fantilli scores his 10th goal of the season with 6:14 left in the third period. Assist to Gaudreau.
#CBJ Fantilli with an incredible effort/shot to tie it at 5-5 at 13:46 of the third. He fired that through the legs of the #LeafsForever defender in front of him in the left circle. 5-5
Fantilli, who's been a bubbling pot of boiling water all game, ties it 5-5 with 6:14 left 3rd ... and goes off with a fantastic goal celebration. That's his 10th goal of the season. Gaudreau the assist. #CBJ #LeafsForever
🚨 #CBJ goal: Adam Fantilli What a goal and what a moment for the Toronto kid. Not much to that one other than him simply beating Samsonov clean from the left dot. Quite a celly after. 5-5 with 6:14 to go. Buckle up.
Guddy with a close tying goal but a block at the very last second keeps this one 5-4 #CBJ
Don’t know about y’all but we are LOVING the Jackets getting under Matthew’s skin tonight 😂 win or lose, it’s been a fun night #CBJ
Domi got into it a bit there with Fantilli before that last draw, then they faced off against each other on the draw ... which was won by Fantilli. #CBJ
#CBJ trail 5-4 after 40 minutes of play. Shots are 26-11, TOR.
Ilya Samsonov has faced 30 shots in his last two starts — and given up nine goals.
Aaaaaand the Leafs are back on top. Five seconds after Alexandre Texier goes to the box for high-sticking, John Tavares tips a shot in on the power play. 5-4 Leafs with 54.9 seconds left in the second. This game is crazypants.
Leafs 5, #CBJ 4 after two periods. The Jackets keep fighting back in what has been a fun, generally insane hockey game.
A busy period that has the Jackets down 5-4 after 40 minutes of play #CBJ
Stepping in for a teammate. When Simon Benoit had words with @BlueJacketsNHL rookie Adam Fantilli, defenseman Erik Gudbranson stepped in and dropped the gloves. #CBJ https://t.co/YbyeD4xcjL
Aaaaaand the Leafs are back on top. Five seconds after Alexandre Texier goes to the box for high-sticking, William Nylander tips a shot in on the power play. His second of the night. 5-4 Leafs with 54.9 seconds left in the second. This game is crazypants.
Texier sent to the box for high-sticking and #LeafsForever score 5 seconds into the ensuing PP to take a 5-4 lead with 54.9 seconds left in the 2nd. Jackets trailing, have the Leafs right where they want them for the third?
John Tavares puts the #Leafs back on top with a PP goal. 5-4.
Only 5.1 seconds into the power play, #LeafsForever strike to take back the lead. It's 5-4 w 54.9 to play.
Aaaaaand the Leafs are back on top. Five seconds after Alexandre Texier goes to the box for high-sticking, John Tavares tips a shot in on the power play 5-4 Leafs with 54.9 seconds left in the second. This game is crazypants.
After #CBJ Adam Fantilli and #LeafsForever Simon Benoit trade shoves, it's Gudbranson vs. Benoit on the ensuing faceoff. Gudbranson the decision, with some heavy rights. 1:06 remaining in what has been a pretty good period for #CBJ
Immediately after puck drop following the Fantilli/Benoit deal, Erik Gudbranson drops the gloves with Benoit. Decision, Gudbranson, who you absolutely could not pay me to fight. The Nationwide crowd and #CBJ bench approve.
Good lord. It’s now 4-4 and #Leafs Samsonov has given up four goals on 11 shots. https://t.co/mtAGZNybl6
Ilya Samsonov's allowed 2.87 more goals than expected so far tonight on just 17 unblocked shots, now that the Blue Jackets have tied it 4-4 (per @NatStatTrick) 🫣
#CBJ has four goals on 11 shots on goal. Ilya Samsonov is deep in it right now. Gotta keep getting pucks on net here.
Watching these teams play hockey is a lot of fun. #CBJ have overcome the stagger against #LeafsForever in this second period on goals by Gaunce, Voronkov and that last one by Johnson. It's 4-4 with 5+ to play in the 2nd period.
#CBJ has four goals on 11 shots on goal. Ilya Samsonov is deep in it right now. Gotta keep pucks on net here.
#CBJ and the Maple Leafs tied at four as Johnson scores his fifth goal of the season with 7:17 left in the second period. Assist to Bemstrom.
GOOOAAALLL JACKETS!! Kent Johnson likes scoring on Toronto as he is left wide open in the slot with everyone looking at Bemmy! 4-4 #CBJ
#CBJ pull even, 4-4, at 12:43 of the second. Kent Johnson scores from out front of the cage off a tremendous effort/play below the goal line by Bemstrom.
🚨 #CBJ goal: Kent Johnson Some good work by Emil Bemstrom gets it to the netfront and Johnson is there to make a pretty little curl and drag before roofing a backhander past the helpless Samsonov. Two CBJ goals in 1:38 and it's 4-4 with 7:17 left in the second.
Kent Johnson ties the game. CBJ has 4 goals on 11 shots.
PP GOAL! Voronkov with a beautiful screen and redirect from Gaudreau’s shot at the blue line. #CBJ down 4-3
#CBJ within one, 4-3, as Voronkov scores his 7th goal of the season on the power play with 8:55 left in the second period. Assists to Gaudreau and Provorov.
Maple Leafs power play goal by Nylander with 10:18 left in the second period to give Toronto a 4-2 lead over #CBJ.
That is pure filth from Nylander who goes roof on the power play to give Toronto a 4-2 lead.
#LeafsForever Nylander with an ungodly angle from below the right circle, just above the extended goal line. Nasty. 4-2 at 9:42 of the second
William Nylander scores from a ridiculous angle on the power play to make it 4-2 Leafs with 10:18 left int he second. That was almost impossible.
Sillinger with a great look at a second goal from right in front after Texier forces another turnover, but Samsonov gloves his shot. #CBJ
Gaunce scores his 1st goal of the season 3:20 into the 2nd period to cut Toronto's lead to 3-2. Assists to Texier and Severson. #CBJ
Toronto goal by Robertson 1:35 into the 2nd period. #CBJ trail 3-1.
Here we go. 3-1 Leaves #CBJ
Nicholas Robertson deflects a shot past Martin 1:35 into the third and it's 3-1 Leafs. #CBJ
Cole Sillinger blasts one from the slot to beat Samsonov and tie the game After looking at the replay, Liljegren fell and wasn’t tripped before the goal.
That's as good of a period Samsonov and the Leafs could ask for 15-4 shots on goal. Marner with a goal and an assist, TOR leads 2-1 after 1.
#CBJ trail 2-1 after the first period. Shots are 15-4, TOR.
#CBJ down 2-1 after one period of play. Cole Sillinger with the Jackets' tally.
End of one in Columbus and it's #LeafsForever 2-1 over #CBJ
Voronkov off for interference with 2:19 left in the 1st ... putting #LeafsForever on the PP leading the #CBJ 2-1.
Leaves back up. 2-1 #CBJ
GOAL JACKETS! Sillinger gets the puck in net after a little sloppy defending from the Leaves! 1-1 #CBJ
Moments after his bio interview played on the video board during the stoppage, Cole Sillinger ties it 1-1 for the #CBJ with a snipe through traffic from just inside the right circle. Tied it at 11:17 of the 1st. #LeafsForever
#LeafsForever cough up the puck in their own end - Liljegren fell behind the net - and #CBJ take advantage. Cole Sillinger scores from the slot off a Bean feed. 1-1 at 11:17 of the first
Cole Sillinger blasts one from the slot to beat Samsonov and tie the game 1-1. Looked like he might of tripped Liljegren before the goal. But it’s 1-1.
Toronto strikes first as Marner scores 4:14 into the first period. #CBJ
#LeafsForever cash in off the rush. Rielly with a lot of time and space, centers the puck. Marner directs it home off a #CBJ skate. 1-0 Toronto at 4:14 of the first period
Leafs take a 1-0 lead 4:14 into the game. Morgan Rielly's centering pass went off a #CBJ skate, right to Mitchell Marner at the back post to tap in. Tough one to start.
Mitch Marner puts the #Leafs on the board. Set it up with the pass back to Rielly and is there at the doorstep to put it back in. 1-0 TOR.
Ducks to their first power play of the game. Less than two minutes left in the game. 5-2 Anaheim.
Meier scores on the breakaway 2:12 into OT for the 2nd point for New Jersey. #CBJ stretch road point streak to 3-straight (2-0-1) with a point. The team is back in action on Friday as it hosts the Maple Leafs @NationwideArena.