Eric Fehr makes his debut as a Maple Leaf as Toronto travels to Columbus to take on the Blue Jackets. One of the toughest matchups in the remainder of the Leafs’ playoff push, we should be in for a very entertaining matchup.

The Blue Jackets look like the dangerous team we were promised early in the 1st period, controlling a lot of the play.

An offensive push for the Jackets with Foligno getting behind the backchecking forward Komarov saw Foligno getting thrown heavily into the boards after an overzealous attempt to get the puck by Komarov. Foligno left the game, but returned a few minutes later.

On a good forecheck by the Leafs, Kadri takes advantage of a whiffed clear by Zach Werenski and finds Leo Komarov in front of the net, who beats Korpisalo high. This gives the Leafs the ever-important first goal and the 1-0 game.

The Leafs brought some physicality from the fourth line, and Connor Carrick, who dropped the shoulder into a big hit. The Jackets were not pleased, and took exception. The ensuing kerfuffle puts the Jackets shorthanded.

On the powerplay, there was one gorgeous chance for Connor Brown which was stopped by Korpisalo. A second great chance in front for Mattthews is initially stopped as well, but he finds his own rebound to give the Leafs a 2-0 lead.

Another powerplay would be effectively killed off by the Jackets, and the period would soon come to an end. But not before an excellent back-and-forth series of action for the last minute of the 1st. The period ends, 2-0 for the Maple Leafs.

Just seconds after the period began, a cannon fires as David Savard got the Jackets on the board on a strong cycle. The game draws closer, 2-1 for the Leafs.

A few minutes later, after another failed Leafs powerplay, the Blue Jackets get the forecheck and cycle going again. The puck gets passed up to the point and Werenski puts a puck where Saad can tip it home, and the game is tied 2-2.

Later, a really long shift in the offensive zone for the Leafs doesn’t end fruitfully, but is encouraging all the same. But, the Jackets followed up with a similar extended shift of their own.

A strange but fun play for the Leafs, as Nylander gets tripped up at the defending blue line. This puts him behind the Jackets’ defence, where he receives a pass, goes for a breakaway, and fires a gorgeous shot top shelf. 3-2 Leafs.

Early in the 3rd period, on some sustained pressure by the Jackets, Roman Polak makes a terrible hit from behind on Oliver Bjorkstrand and is ejected from the game. The Leafs, however, were successful in killing the 5 minute major penalty.

The Leafs made the decision not to have anyone serve the Polak penalty. This lead to a circus when the penalty ended, as no one was in the box to come on the ice. For some reason, the Leafs were not allowed to play someone off of the bench instead, so they played an extra two minutes shorthanded after the initial 5 minutes. Still unharmed.

A long time of the 3rd was spent in the Leafs zone, with score effects starting to take over the game.

Late in the period, a loose puck lands right on Kadri’s stick at the side of the home plate, and beats Korpisalo. The goal was challenged by Tortorella, but was ruled onside.

The Blue Jackets were desperate to get back in the game and pulled their goalie with over 3 minutes left in the game. But, the Leafs would capitalize and fire the puck into the empty net. 5-2 Leafs.

This was a really good result for the Leafs, obviously. Not the best night Corsi wise, especially for the Rielly-Polak pair and the Bozak and Matthews lines.

My three stars for the night are:

The Leafs face the New Jersey Devils tomorrow night on the back-to-back, so be sure to check in for our LGD thread tomorrow afternoon.

Goodnight, and go Leafs.