Toronto Maple Leafs @ Columbus Blue Jackets: 12/29/23 Game Recap

With the Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs 2023-24 Series on the line tonight, this promised to be a spectacular game and did not disappoint. At 4:14, Mitchell Marner would give his Leafs an early lead 1-0. But, at 11:17, the fourth goal of Cole Sillinger's season would even up the score at 1-1! His goal would give Jake Bean his third assist of his season. At 12:55, Auston Matthews would pick up where he left off last week (hattrick) and pop another goal into the Blue Jackets' net. So, it would be the Leafs by a goal after twenty minutes of play. 

As if the Blue Jackets need to lose more players, Elvis Merzlikins would be out for the entire second period due to illness. He was not ruled out for the game at this point, though. So, Daniil Tarasov would become the backup to Spencer Marton, and the second period would get underway. It would kick off with another Leafs goal, this time from Nicholas Roberson, at 1:35. After this, Spencer Martin would get set in the net, and the Blue Jackets epic comeback would begin! Up first, Brendan Gaunce, with his first goal of the 2023-24 NHL Season at 3:20! This goal would give Alexander Texier his seventh assist this season, while Damon Severson would capture number six. At 9:42, William Nylander would go high as Martin went low and score. That 4-2 Leafs lead would only last until 11:05, when Dmitri Voronkov would ship his seventh goal of the season into the net, making it a single-goal lead for the Leafs. After this goal, Johnny Gaudreau has seventeen assists, while Ivan Proverov has eighteen. Then, at 12-43, it would be number five for Kent Johnson. Emil Bemstorm would have the only assist on this goal, and it's his sixth. Sadly, that sweet 4-4 tie would be broken at 19:05 by William Nylander. Still, only being down a goal with twenty minutes to play isn't a bad position to be in! 

With the Blue Jackets managing to produce four goals on just eleven shots on goal, I expected the third period to be tight, and I was proven right. Also, Elvis Merzlikins wouldn't return for this period. His night would finish at .857%. After much back-and-forth of incredible battle, the 2023 First-Round pick would tie this game again at 13:45! Yes, Adam Fantilli enters the double-digit column in goals at 10! Johnny Gaudreau also has another multipoint night (0-2-2) with his eighteenth assist on this Fantilli goal. This Fantilli goal would be the only goal this period, so the Blue Jackets are rewarded with a point, and they fore OT with the hopes of another!  

And, at 2:55, Johnny Gaudreau says goodnight to the Leafs with his seventh goal this season! It's a 1-2-3 finish for Johnny Gaudreau, and, just like that, the final Blue Jackets game of 2023 in Nationwide Arean ends with an Overtime WIN! This goal would give Damon Severson his seventh assist on a 0-2-2 night, while Justin Danforth would gain his eighth. I remember last season when this team had so many injuries and couldn't buy a goal, let alone the fight to push forward to find one. This team is improving, and these nights make me writing for you so sweet. Let's go CBJ! 

The final game of 2023 for the Columbus Blue Jackets kicks off tomorrow night, as the back-to-back wraps up in Buffalo at the Sabers. The game starts at 5:00 pm, and I work until 6:00 pm. So, I'm not sure how much or if I'll be able to write. That said, if I don't get to, this was one hell of a way to wrap up my last blog of 2023! 

GO CBJ!