The Leafs looked like the better team for most of the game, but couldn't solve Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins.

Adam Fantilli scored his first career hat trick as the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 on Wednesday night. Luca Del Bel Belluz added a goal and an assist and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Blue Jackets,

The Toronto Maple Leafs are playing incredible hockey in the 2024-25 season. The Maple Leafs had struggled a bit, but have since rattled off three straight wins. Unfortunately, it appears the team is on track to lose Wednesday night to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

But Knies and linemates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were already in a frustrated state as the Jackets ended the Leafs’ three-game win streak. Columbus, making an improbable run at a wild-card playoff spot, are only the second Eastern Conference team to beat the Atlantic Division leading Leafs twice, by a combined 11-3 score.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves and Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets traded heavy punches in the opening minutes of Wednesday's tilt.

Matthew Knies appears to have suffered his second injury this season. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was throwing a check at Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko late in the second period when he fell to the ice awkwardly. this happened at the end of Knies' last shift he left the bench early pic.twitter.com/ttWe3jVggl

Auston Matthews has had a ton of success against Columbus in his career, and our Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets predictions expect that to continue tonight.

The Leafs, who suffered 6-2 road loss to the Blue Jackets in October, saw a three-game winning streak snapped. Fantilli, a native of nearby Nobleton, Ont., with 70 family and friends in attendance at Scotiabank Arena, pushed Columbus ahead 3-0 in the second period with his second of the night.

TORONTO -- Adam Fantilli scored his first NHL hat trick, and the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. Fantilli, who grew up in Nobleton, Ontario, about a 40-minute drive north of Toronto, said at the morning skate that he would have 70 family and friends in attendance at the game.

The Toronto Maple Leafs faced a tough night on multiple fronts, suffering a 5–1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday and seeing key forward Matthew Knies exit the game with an upper-body injury. The injury occurred late in the second period when Knies delivered a hit on Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko but got the worst of it.

Fantilli recorded his first career hat trick in front of his friends and family at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.