Columbus Blue Jackets @ Toronto Maple Leafs: 4/4/23 Game Recap

Coming into this as a team battling for last place vs. a team already in the 2023 NHL Playoffs, even I expected this game to be a landslide for the Maple Leafs. However, that wouldn't be the case. Goal one would come at 5:10 from Z. Aston-Reese, giving his Maple Leafs a 1-0 home lead. At 12:22, though, Jack Roslovic's twelfth goal this season would even the odds at 1-1. With the primary assist, Kent Johnson now has twenty-four this season, while Liam Foudy adds his seventh this season with the secondary. This would be the score after a full 20 minutes of play. 

Period 2 would be held to just 1 goal. It would come at 7:25 and be in favor of the Maple Leafs. This goal would belong to A. Kerfoot. So, 2-1 after 2/3 of this regulation hockey game. For how much the Blue Jackets have struggled this season, these last few games have shown some incredible promise for the near future. Also, Jet Greaves was the Blue Jackets Goalie tonight, and this was his first NHL Game, even though he'd been called up many times this season. If he was nervous at any time in the net, it did not show, that's for sure. 

Period 3 would begin with more keep-away and close shots, as we saw earlier in this game. However, it would be Z. Aston-Reese who would score the first goal of this period. The time on this goal was 8:11, and it gave his Maple Leafs a 3-1 advantage. A few minutes later, with his twelfth goal this season, Eric Robinson would make it a 3-2 game! His goal would come at 12:03 and have no assists. An empty net goal by the Maple Leafs A. Matthews at 18:57 would bring their score to 4-2 and solidify their home win tonight. 

This was an incredibly well-played game for the Blue Jackets tonight, though. Jet Greaves had a night with 49 shots on his net; he stopped 46 of them. Those numbers would earn him the Second Star of the Game tonight, too! The offense didn't snooze, and neither did the defense. This was one of their better games this season, especially on the road.  

Our next game will be on the road as well. We'll travel to face the Devils of New Jersey on Thursday evening, with a puck drop set for 7:00 PM. 

Go CBJ! 

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