Blue Jackets blow five-goal lead, still beat Maple Leafs 6-5 in OT

Field Level Media|published: Thu 14th December, 22:14 2023

Dec 14, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson (91) gets congratulated after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. credits: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Kent Johnson scored his second goal of the game 3:26 into overtime and the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets recovered from a third-period meltdown to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-5 Thursday night.

The Maple Leafs scored five goals in the third period to tie the game. Auston Matthews scored twice within 30 seconds in the final two minutes of the third to force overtime. The tying goal came at 19:15.

Johnson won it with his third goal of the season. He also had an assist.

Yegor Chinakhov and Justin Danforth tallied a goal and an assist for the Blue Jackets. Patrik Laine and Johnny Gaudreau also scored. Defensemen Ivan Provorov, Zach Werenski and David Jiricek had two assists apiece, and Elvis Merzlikins stopped 43 shots.

Mitchell Marner had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs. William Nylander and Jake McCabe also found the net and John Tavares added two assists. Ilya Samsonov made 29 saves for Toronto.

Maple Leafs forward Ryan Reaves left the game with a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return.

Laine scored his sixth goal of the season from the low slot at 6:19 of the first period. Johnson made the pass after the Maple Leafs failed to clear the puck.

Laine (shoulder) later left the game after he was taken into the boards behind the Toronto goal. He did not return.

Johnson had his first goal of the night by redirecting Andrew Peeke's shot at 11:56 of the first.

With the teams playing 4-on-4, Danforth banked a backhand shot from behind the goal line off Samsonov's blocker. Danforth's seventh goal of the season came at 8:16 of the second.

Chinakhov scored his seventh at 10:45 of the second, sliding a close-in shot through the five-hole.

Gaudreau made it 5-0 with his fifth of the season at 14:19 of the second during a power play. William Lagesson was off for holding.

Nylander began the Maple Leafs' comeback just 38 seconds into the third period by scoring his 14th goal of the season. Marner notched his 12th at 3:49.

McCabe scored his first goal of the season at 14:21 during a power play with Provorov off for boarding.

With Samsonov out for an extra attacker, Matthews potted his 22nd and 23rd goals of the season.

Matthew Knies (illness) did not play for Toronto.

—Field Level Media

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