Auston Matthews stays hot, helps Leafs past Jackets

Auston Matthews scored twice and added an assist while William Nylander had one goal and two helpers as the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the host Columbus Blue Jackets 4-1 on Saturday.

John Tavares had the other goal for the Leafs, and Martin Jones made 27 saves to improve to 3-0-0 on the road this season. With the win, Toronto avoided a third straight loss and picked up its fifth win in its past six trips to Columbus.

Justin Danforth had the lone Blue Jackets goal, and Daniil Tarasov stopped 26 shots in his third start of the season.

Toronto opened the scoring on Matthews' 27th goal of the season. The Leafs center one-timed a Mitchell Marner feed past Tarasov at 8:20 of the opening period.

Columbus tied the game 1-1 22 seconds into the second period when Johnny Gaudreau sent Danforth in all alone, and the Blue Jackets forward beat Jones high glove side for his eighth marker of the season.

Tavares gave Toronto a 2-1 lead at 2:58 of the middle period, spinning around Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson and beating Tarasov blocker side for his 10th goal.

Matthews made it 3-1 on a power play, one-timing a Marner feed past Tarasov for his league-leading 28th goal of the season at 8:21 of the middle frame. Matthews has goals in seven straight games.

Nylander made it 4-1 short-handed, beating Tarasov high glove side for his 16th marker of the campaign at 11:51 of the third. With his three points on Saturday, Nylander has four goals and 14 assists during an 11-game point streak.

Blue Jackets center Sean Kuraly left the game with 18 seconds remaining in the first period and did not return. Kuraly was hit by Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe behind the Toronto net and then took a puck to the chest area before skating off the ice bent over.

Kuraly collapsed behind the Columbus bench. The team announced that Kuraly suffered an abdominal injury and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.

—Field Level Media