Toronto Maple Leafs @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 12/23/23 Game Recap

The Blue Jackets would look to add another win to their season tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs would come to town, heading into the Christmas Holiday on a high note. Period one would be full of potential for both teams, but only the Leafs would score. The goal would come from Auston Matthews, who scored at 8:20. So the Blue Jackets would go into the locker room only down a goal but also without Sean Kuraly. About 0:19 seconds would be added to the second twenty-minute period as the Blue Jackets summoned the paramedics after Kuraly took a nasty smash between two players, followed by a puck to the body. It was a scary sight, but not long after, we'd find out that Kuraly would be okay, and we could all breathe a sigh of relief. That said, he wouldn't play in the notified second period. It is important to note that after this period took place, during the second intermission, it was announced he'd be taken to Grant Medical Center as a "precaution' due to an "abdominal injury." I cannot stress how much I wish him the best and that this is not severe. I will copy and paste the announcement from BlueJacketsPR on X below in my sourced content so you can read it. 

Period two would start on a higher note from the Blue Jackets as they'd see goal eight this season from Justin Danforth at 0:22! Johnny Gaudreau adds assist number sixteen this season, while Adam Fantilli reaches his player number of eleven. Unfortunately, after some odd penalty calls, the Leafs would score again at 2:58 by way of John Tavares and at 8:21 with another from Austin Matthews. With one period left in regulation, the Blue Jackets would have to find two goals to tie and three to have their first evening lead. 

With a final period with several more penalties, the Blue Jackets would finally get the chance to add back a goal when the Leafs would extend their lead once again. At 11:59, William Nylander scored on our powerplay, giving his team a three-goal lead. The Blue Jackets would continue to shoot the puck, but with no conversion on the powerplay and few shots, the Blue Jackets would lose this game 4-1.  

I wish you all a very safe and Merry Christmas. Our next game will be in New Jersey on December 27th against the Devils with a puck drop time of 7:00 p.m.  

Go CBJ

Source for Kuraly injury update:

@BlueJacketsPR (CBJ Public Relations) on X

"UPDATE: #CBJ F Sean Kuraly was injured late in the 1st period of tonight’s game vs. Toronto. Medical personnel were alerted as a precaution. He is currently being evaluated at the arena."