Matthews scores 40th goal as Toronto beats Blue Jackets 5-4

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Auston Matthews turned the primary participant to attain 40 targets this season, Petr Mrazek made 31 saves and the Toronto Maple Leafs held off the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-4 on Monday night time.

Matthews and linemates Mitch Marner and Michael Bunting every had a purpose and an help, and llya Mikheyev and Alexander Kerfoot additionally scored as Toronto snapped a two-game shedding streak. T.J. Brodie had two assists.

The Maple Leafs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in a dominant first interval. The Blue Jackets had tied it by early within the third interval, however couldn’t get a go-ahead tally.

“I believe simply the beginning that we had was actually optimistic, (then) letting them again within the sport, however I assumed simply our bench and our staff as a complete simply stayed poised and assured,” Matthews stated. “And we simply stored enjoying and scored a pair large targets to offer ourselves a lead.”

Elvis Merzlikins, beginning his third sport in 4 days for Columbus, made 28 saves, however it wasn’t sufficient to stop a 3rd straight loss for the Blue Jackets, who dropped a back-to-back over the weekend.

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Sean Kuraly, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jack Roslovic and Patrik Laine scored for Columbus. Gus Nyquist and Max Domi every had two assists.

Toronto introduced sustained early strain within the Columbus finish and took benefit of turnovers.

Mikheyev beat Merzlikins 8:06 into the sport earlier than Marner scored off a rebound from Bunting’s lengthy shot with 5:59 left within the first. Matthews acquired his league-leading fortieth purpose about three minutes later with a wraparound shot to the far submit.

“Our entire staff was actually good within the first, which makes Auston’s line and Auston himself that rather more harmful,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe stated. “As a result of shift over shift, we’re simply carrying momentum and actually carrying down the opponent.”

The Blue Jackets closed it to 3-1 early within the second when a protracted shot by Domi bounced in off Kuraly. Bjorkstrand reduce the result in one along with his twentieth purpose late within the second throughout a 4-on-4.

The Jackets tied it early within the third when Roslovic tapped in a protracted move from Domi on an influence play.

However the Leafs acquired again to work, with Kerfoot banging in a purpose off the far submit and Bunting shoveling one in over Merzlikin’s skate in visitors with 8:39 left within the sport.

Laine made it a one-goal sport once more with 48 seconds left, however the Blue Jackets, with an empty internet, simply ran out of time.

“I do know the place we’re at right here. We’d like the 2 factors, however it was a step for us tonight towards a very good staff to remain in it and work ourselves again into the sport,” Columbus coach Brad Larsen stated.

GOOD COMPANY

Matthews turned the second participant in Maple Leaf’s historical past to report 4 40-goal seasons. Corridor of Famer Darryl Sittler did it in 1975-76. ’77-’78, ’79-’80 and ’80-’81. Matthews had two targets Saturday night time within the loss to Vancouver.

MASK FREE

A half hour earlier than the puck dropped, the Blue Jackets introduced that masks would not be required for followers at Nationwide Area. That adopted the choice by Columbus Metropolis Council earlier Monday to carry the city-wide masks mandate.

ICE CHIPS

Mrazek, enjoying in simply his fifteenth video games this season, began for Jack Campbell, who made 23 saves in Toronto’s 6-4 loss to Vancouver on Saturday. … Blue Jackets G Joonas Korpisalo was activated from injured reserve Monday after lacking 9 video games with a lower-body harm. J-F Berube was despatched again right down to the AHL staff in Cleveland. … D Jake Bean returned for Columbus after lacking 14 video games with a lower-body harm. Gavin Bayreuther was scratched to make room. … Bjorkstrand has factors in his final 5 video games and in 11 of the final 14.

UP NEXT:

Maple Leafs: Play the Seattle Kraken at dwelling on Tuesday night time.

Blue Jackets: At New York Islanders on Thursday.

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Extra AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports