Nationwide Arena · Columbus, Ohio
Toronto erupted for four second-period goals to pull away from Columbus and secure a convincing 6–2 road victory.
The win gave the Maple Leafs consecutive victories after their three-game losing streak.
Period-by-period recap
First period — Marchenko answers Columbus
Columbus opened the scoring at 2:38 when Jake Christiansen beat Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz for a 1–0 lead.
Kirill Marchenko responded at 8:16 with a power-play goal against his former team, redirecting a pass from Auston Matthews.
William Nylander also assisted as Toronto tied the game 1–1.
The goal gave Marchenko a memorable moment in his first return to Columbus since the trade
Second period — Toronto takes complete control
The Maple Leafs turned a competitive game into a rout with four unanswered goals.
2:26 — William Nylander: Put Toronto ahead 2–1 with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle.
Morgan Rielly and Colton Sissons collected assists.
3:12 — Auston Matthews: Extended the lead to 3–1, finishing a cross-ice setup from Jack Roslovic.
Easton Cowan also received an assist.
6:48 — Easton Cowan: Scored shorthanded to make it 4–1, capitalizing on a key special-teams opportunity.
12:03 — Jack Roslovic: Converted a pass from Rielly to make it 5–1, prompting Columbus to replace starting goaltender Jet Greaves with Cam Talbot
Toronto’s speed, finishing ability and special-teams execution overwhelmed the Blue Jackets during the middle frame.
Third period — Rifai records his first NHL goal
Charlie Coyle cut the deficit to 5–2 at 4:13, briefly giving the home crowd something to celebrate.
Toronto responded late when defenseman Marshall Rifai scored his first NHL goal at 16:58, sealing the 6–2 final.
It was a significant milestone for Rifai and another positive moment in a strong team performance.
Three stars of the game
1. Easton Cowan — Toronto
1 goal, 2 assists
Cowan delivered a three-point performance and scored a crucial shorthanded goal that widened Toronto’s advantage
2. Jack Roslovic — Toronto
1 goal, 2 assists
Roslovic helped drive the second-period surge, contributing on multiple goals and providing an offensive spark.
3. Anthony Stolarz — Toronto
33 saves
Stolarz steadied the Maple Leafs after the early Columbus goal and finished with 33 saves on 35 shots
Major storylines
Matthews reaches 700 NHL games: Toronto’s captain marked the milestone with a goal and an assist.
Marchenko makes an impact against his former club: His power-play goal helped spark the comeback.
Cowan continues to impress: The young forward recorded three points, including a shorthanded goal.
Rifai celebrates his first NHL goal: The defenseman added the finishing touch late in the third period.
Toronto finds consistency: Back-to-back wins offer a welcome response after a three-game skid
The Maple Leafs produced one of their most complete offensive performances of the young season.
After conceding the opening goal, Toronto responded through Marchenko and completely took over in the second period, scoring four times in less than 10 minutes.
Matthews’ milestone night, Cowan’s three-point contribution and Stolarz’s steady goaltending were central to the victory.
Toronto also received meaningful contributions throughout its lineup, with Rifai’s first NHL goal providing a fitting finish.
Final verdict: A commanding road win that demonstrated Toronto’s offensive depth, effective special teams and ability to respond under pressure.
Next game: The Maple Leafs return home to host the New York Rangers on Thursday, October 22.
