John Tavares became the 49th player to score 500 goals in the NHL, but it was not enough as Toronto fell to the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-3 Wednesday night at Nationwide Arena.
After a full slate of games Tuesday night, the Maple Leafs versus the Blue Jackets was the only game Wednesday night with both teams playing back-to-back.
The quick turnover meant that Cayden Primeau got tabbed for the start in net for Toronto, and the fatigued Leafs did little to help their goaltender in the first.
Cole Sillinger put the Jackets ahead at the 6:56 mark. The Columbus winger beat defenceman Simon Benoit at the blue line, powered forward to the net, and shovelled the puck past Primeau to make it 1-0.
Midway through the period, Zach Werenski added to the lead, skating through the Toronto defence and beating Primeau with a wrist shot through his five-hole.
Toronto got on the board early in the second. Sammy Blais scored his first of the year and first as a member of the Maple Leafs, flipping a rebound shot over Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlinkins to close the gap to 2-1.
But the Leafs’ sluggishness burned them time and time again. An errant clearing attempt and poor coverage in front of their net allowed Ivan Provorov to scoop a backhand past Primeau, restoring the Columbus two-goal lead, 3-1, at 8:33 of the second.
The Blue Jackets were not done. Sillinger added his second of the game, finishing a pass by Charlie Coyle on a two-on-one break to make it 4-1 at 13:24. A few minutes later, Dante Fabbro fired an open look shot from just outside the circle to extend the lead to 5-1.
Mathieu Oliver added his first of the season making it 6-1 Blue Jackets 7:50 into the third period. Oliver finished the night with 4 points.
Toronto managed a couple of goals in the waning moments of the third. Jon Tavares netted his milestone goal at the 15:45 mark, and Nicholas Robertson scored his second of the season to close out the game and trim the final margin to 6-3.
The Maple Leafs will try to get back on the winning track when they travel to Philadelphia on Saturday to take on the Flyers.
