Cole Sillinger scored two goals and added an assist, leading the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 6-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday night at Nationwide Arena. The win extended Columbus’s winning streak to three games and marked their fifth victory in six outings, boosting their standing in the Metropolitan Division despite a strong offensive push from Toronto.
Sillinger opened the scoring just 6:56 into the first period, capitalizing on a pass from Charlie Coyle to beat goaltender Cayden Primeau with a wrist shot. This early goal set the tone for the Blue Jackets, who doubled their lead when defenseman Zach Werenski fired a shot from the right circle past Primeau’s glove at 11:16. Werenski’s contribution underscored his offensive reliability, as he notched a goal in consecutive games for Columbus.
Toronto responded in the second period when Sammy Blais, making his Maple Leafs debut after being claimed off waivers, batted a puck past Elvis Merzlikins to cut the deficit to 2-1. However, the Blue Jackets’ third line of Sillinger, Coyle, and Mathieu Olivier dominated the game, combining for 11 points. Ivan Provorov restored the two-goal cushion at 8:33 with a backhand finish, and Sillinger netted his second goal of the night at 13:24 on a 2-on-1 rush with Coyle.
Dante Fabbro extended Columbus’s lead to 5-1 later in the period, and Olivier added a goal in the third to make it 6-1. Despite the lopsided score, Toronto mounted a late rally, with John Tavares scoring his 500th career goal at 15:45 of the third period. Tavares became only the second player to reach this milestone with the Maple Leafs, joining Mats Sundin, but the achievement was overshadowed by the team’s loss. Nicholas Robertson added another goal for Toronto, resulting in a 6-3 final.
The Blue Jackets’ offensive outburst was fueled by standout performances, including Coyle’s career-high four assists—one of which marked his 300th career helper—and Olivier’s personal-best four points. Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made 33 saves, weathering a Maple Leafs attack that outshot Columbus 38-25. Merzlikins’ steadiness in net was crucial, as Toronto applied consistent pressure but struggled to convert chances into goals.
For the Maple Leafs, the loss snapped a two-game winning streak and highlighted ongoing issues, particularly with top scorer William Nylander sidelined due to a lower-body injury. Coach Craig Berube criticized his team’s defensive lapses and poor puck management, noting that these errors proved costly against a disciplined Blue Jackets squad. The game also saw forward Steven Lorentz leave in the second period after a hit, with no immediate update on his condition.
Looking ahead, Toronto will aim to rebound when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, while Columbus hosts the St. Louis Blues in another home contest. The Blue Jackets’ recent success has injected optimism into their season, demonstrating depth and resilience as they compete in a tight division race. This victory reinforces their potential as a playoff contender, with balanced scoring and strong goaltending key to their early-season surge.