The Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs both competed in their first games since the 2023 NHL All Star Game from Sunrise, Florida.

In what could be sold as a winger collision between Mitch Marner and William Nylander against Patrik Laine and Johnny Gaudreau, here were the results from the two games in two nights, from the two cities:

CBJ G52 — Leafs Stars Silence Jackets

The top guys shined brightest for the Maple Leafs in a 3-0 shutout over the Columbus Blue Jackets in their first home game since January 31.

John Tavares opened the scoring just five minutes into the game, for what stood to be the game winning goal. His power play tally would be his 22nd of the season for the Leafs’ leader. Mitchell Marner, my Leafs’ player to watch, had the primary assist; Michael Bunting had the secondary.

The Maple Leafs went on to score two goals in 49 seconds in the middle of the third period to get themselves to three goals for the evening.

Pierre Engvall would extend the lead to two for his 11th of the season. Defender Morgan Rielly and center David Kampf got the helpers.

JT got his second of the game with his 23rd of the season; Marner got his second assist of the game.

Marner was my Leafs’ player to watch, having earned two assists to get him to 43 on the season. He is a pure skill guy, and a primary force on the offense

Ilya Samsonov stopped all 30 shots faced in the TML crease.

Patrik Laine was my Blue Jackets’ player to watch, having one shot on goal and two giveaways in 15:52TOI.

Joonas Korpisalo stopped 38 of 41 shots for a 0.927 save percentage.

CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Joonas Korpsialo — 38 saves

2. Erik Gudbranson — 20:49TOI; 3SOG; 1HIT; 2BLKS; 1TKA

3. Boone Jenner — 12PIM, 3SOG, 1HIT, 62.5% FO; 17:39TOI


CBJ G53 — Marchenk-Show

The stat line of of Russian rookie right winger Kirill Marchenko is the story as the Columbus Blue Jackets stun the Toronto Maple Leafs in another Saturday win for the Union Blue. The final score is 4-3 in regulation, from Scotibank Arena

Toronto opened the scoring in front of the home faithful with two first period goals.

William Nylander recorded the first goal with an early wrist shot for his 29th of the season. Alex Kerfoot and Calle Jarnkrok had the helpers

Michael Buntjng registered his 16th of the year as the midway point passed; Mitch Marner had the lone apple.

Columbus came back with a three goal second period, including two of them coming in 57 seconds off each other.

Boone Jenner closed the shutout opportunity with a silky smooth wrist shot for his 15th of season. Kirill Marchenko logged his first NHL career assist.

Marchenko got the game tying goal for his 14th goal of the campaign of a driving effort on the Leafs' goaltender; Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau had the helpers.

Quickly after, Kuraly threw a quick wrister that wobbled past the Leafs for his 10th of the season; Kent Johnson and Mathieu Olivier had the helpers.

Morgan Rielly scored an early third period power play goal for his second of the season; Marner and Nylander got the assists on the final Leafs marker.

A Cole Sillinger wrist shot was deflected off the stick of rookie Kent Johnson for the eventual game winning goal for his 11th of the season. Sillinger had the primary; and Jack Roslovic had the secondary assist.

William Nylander was my Leafs' player to watch for the evening. His goal and assist have him matching his highest production season since his sophomore year in 2016-17.

Joseph Woll suffered a loss in his season debut with the Leafs, stopping 36 shots out of 40 faced for a 0.900 save percentage.

Vladislav Gavrikov was my player to watch for the Blue Jackets, having a -2 on the weekend with 2 shots and averaging 20:45TOI.

Elvis Merzlikins got his first win since January 14, stopping 26 of 29 shots for a 0.897 save percentage.

CBJ THREE STARS OF THE GAME

1. Kirill Marchenko -- goal (14), assist (1)

2. Kent Johnson -- GWG (11), assist (15)

3. Boone Jenner -- goal (15), assist (13)

Fodder Thoughts

The Leafs show how they can't win by losing to weaker teams.

Kiril Marchenko 13-0 stat line ends

Boone Jenner is the lone first
Place goal scorer where there is a three way tie for second with 14.

Kuraly becomes the sixth player with 10 goals or more this season.

Columbus is 4-1 on Saturdays in 2023.

More to come...

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