Adam Fantilli’s first hat trick powers Blue Jackets past Maple Leafs 5-1

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.

Del Bel Belluz — who’s from Woodbridge, Ont., also just outside Toronto — put things to bed in the third when he made it 4-0. Matthews got a consolation goal for the home side before Fantilli completed his hat trick into then empty net with Hildeby on the bench for an extra attacker.

Takeaways

Leafs: Matthew Knies (upper-body injury) left the game late in the second period following a big collision by the benches and didn’t return.

Blue Jackets: Merzlikins appeared to suffer an injury during the morning skate, but was good to go against Toronto.

Key moment

Merzlikins made a couple of huge stops on Matthews in the middle period before van Riemsdyk and Fantilli scored one minute 41 seconds apart to put Columbus up 3-0.

Key stat

Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski entered play leading the NHL in average ice time at 26:49. Utah Hockey blueliner Mikhail Sergachev (25:45) sat more than a minute back at No. 2.

Up next

Columbus concludes a four-game road-trip Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes. Toronto is off until Saturday’s visit to Ottawa to take on the Senators.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2025.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Adam Fantilli’s first hat trick powers Blue Jackets past Maple Leafs 5-1

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