Johnny Gaudreau's OT goal lifts Blue Jackets over Maple Leafs

Field Level Media|published: Fri 29th December, 22:20 2023

Dec 29, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) controls the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Nationwide Arena. credits: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports

Johnny Gaudreau's backhand goal 2:56 into overtime gave the Columbus Blue Jackets a 6-5 win over the visiting Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday.

The Blue Jackets ended a three-game (0-1-2) winless streak with the comeback victory. Columbus never led during regulation but equalized three times against Toronto's leads.

Gaudreau also had two assists for his second three-point game of the season. Cole Sillinger, Brendan Gaunce, Dmitri Voronkov, Kent Johnson and Adam Fantilli scored for the Jackets, while Damon Severson collected two assists.

Spencer Martin stopped 16 of 19 shots to earn the win in a relief outing. Starting goaltender Elvis Merzlikins stopped 12 of 14 shots in the first period but had to leave the game due to illness.

William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner each had a goal and an assist for Toronto. Nicholas Robertson and John Tavares scored the Leafs' other goals, and Morgan Rielly tallied three assists.

Nylander has 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) over a 13-game points streak.

Ilya Samsonov stopped 15 of 21 shots, as the struggling goalie has allowed at least five goals in each of his last three games.

The Maple Leafs are 1-3-1 in their last five games.

Toronto outshot Columbus 14-4 in the first period. Matthews scored at the 12:55 mark to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead on the star forward's league-leading 29th goal of the season.

Toronto retained that one-goal lead after a busy second period that saw both teams score three times. Robertson and Gaunce exchanged goals within the first 3:20 of the second frame, and Nylander tallied a power-play goal at the 9:42 mark.

Columbus quickly equalized against this two-goal deficit. Voronkov scored a tip-in of a power-play goal 11:05 into the period, and Emil Bemstrom's strong forecheck behind the net led to Johnson's tally at the 12:43 mark.

Tavares put Toronto ahead with 55 seconds remaining before the second intermission, redirecting Nylander's shot for a power-play marker.

Fantilli had the third period's only goal, bringing the Jackets level once more at the 13:46 mark. Fantilli sent a perfectly-placed shot from the circle for the rookie's 10th goal of the season.

—Field Level Media

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