Blue Jackets beat Maple Leafs despite Tavares’s best efforts

Article content

Now that’s how to make your house a real home – put John Tavares in charge of renovations.

Article content

While their generous string of Bay Street dates to open this NHL season ended Thursday, the Maple Leafs tried to make the most of their last two there for a while by taking three out of a possible four points.

Article content

Adam Fantilli capped a hat trick with 38.8 seconds to go in overtime for a 3-2 Columbus Blue Jackets win. Tavares led a two-goal comeback in regulation at Scotiabank Arena. His third-period goal, a give-and-go with rookie Easton Cowan, was his 12th after he set up William Nylander’s OT dagger against St. Louis.

He nearly put Toronto ahead with six minutes remaining with a steal deep in the Jackets’ pocket and had a crack in the extra period.

After the NHL schedule gifted them 15 home games in their first 21, Toronto ended that run 8-4-3. That’s still below what they intended to have saved on their points card as Thursday’s send-off begins a season-high six-game road trip. It’s also a big reason why they sit so low in the Atlantic Division.

Article content

RECOMMENDED VIDEO

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

Short-handed lineup leads to more line juggling

It was another unfamiliar lineup that coach Craig Berube had to assemble with all of the recent injuries, though he was able to welcome back Scott Laughton for just his third game this season. Centring Steven Lorentz and Cowan, they were Toronto’s most effective line in a scoreless first period, while Laughton thrived back in a penalty killing role.

Toronto had a rare two-man advantage of its own to work with during the opening 20 minutes and while unlikely personnel, such as Calle Jarnkrok, were part of the power-play makeup, the Leafs did well controlling the puck, if not scoring.

Instead, that key opening goal went to Fantilli, one of three GTA-born players in the game for Columbus. He snapped a screened shot past Joseph Woll early in the second period and added another 2:11 later while Toronto tried to exchange all five weary skaters following extended pressure.

A similar scenario was part of Toronto’s eventual reply, a fourth-line push that forced the Jackets into an icing, after which Tavares won a draw back to defenceman Dakota Mermis for the journeyman’s first NHL goal since Feb. 24, 2024. Berube swapped Jarnkrok for Cowan midway through the game.

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby

Share this article in your social network