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TORONTO — The Blue Jackets keep watching the same sad movie on repeat, and it has just about crushed their once promising playoff aspirations.
Once again, they came out strong and dominated from the opening draw without scoring a goal. Once again, a fluke bounce created a turnover that led to the opposing team taking a 1-0 lead that became 2-0 a second turnover in the second period Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. After that, as has also been the case in recent weeks, things got out of hand in the third period of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 5-0 victory.
William Nylander and Nicholas Robertson each scored two goals, Auston Matthews added his 30th goal of the season and the Maple Leafs (47-25-4) got an impressive 27-save shutout from backup goalie Anthony Stolarz. Elvis Merzlikins started for the Blue Jackets (34-32-9), who’ve stumbled to a 4-10-1 record in 15 games since leaving the ice March 1 at Ohio Stadium after a thrilling 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
That win gave the Blue Jackets control of the first wild card in the Eastern Conference.
They’ve plummeted since, starting Saturday's game four points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card with eight games remaining.
A Canadiens victory over the Philadelphia Flyers would push that margin to six points with just seven games left for the Jackets, who now face a tough 22-hour turnaround Sunday to complete a back-to-back against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.
Robertson got the scoring started late in the first with his first of the game, sending a wrist shot past Merzlikins after the goalie turned the puck over with a clearing attempt. A turnover at the Blue Jackets' blue line led to his second goal to make it 2-0 in the second. Nylander and Matthews scored the Leafs' three goals in the third to complete the scoring.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets' playoff hopes fade after loss to Maple Leafs
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Once again, they came out strong and dominated from the opening draw without scoring a goal. Once again, a fluke bounce created a turnover that led to the opposing team taking a 1-0 lead that became 2-0 a second turnover in the second period Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. After that, as has also been the case in recent weeks, things got out of hand in the third period of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 5-0 victory.
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William Nylander and Nicholas Robertson each scored two goals, Auston Matthews added his 30th goal of the season and the Maple Leafs (47-25-4) got an impressive 27-save shutout from backup goalie Anthony Stolarz. Elvis Merzlikins started for the Blue Jackets (34-32-9), who’ve stumbled to a 4-10-1 record in 15 games since leaving the ice March 1 at Ohio Stadium after a thrilling 5-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings.
That win gave the Blue Jackets control of the first wild card in the Eastern Conference.
You must be registered for see images attach
They’ve plummeted since, starting Saturday's game four points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card with eight games remaining.
A Canadiens victory over the Philadelphia Flyers would push that margin to six points with just seven games left for the Jackets, who now face a tough 22-hour turnaround Sunday to complete a back-to-back against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre.
Robertson got the scoring started late in the first with his first of the game, sending a wrist shot past Merzlikins after the goalie turned the puck over with a clearing attempt. A turnover at the Blue Jackets' blue line led to his second goal to make it 2-0 in the second. Nylander and Matthews scored the Leafs' three goals in the third to complete the scoring.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets' playoff hopes fade after loss to Maple Leafs
Continue reading...
