Toronto @ Columbus preview
Nationwide Arena
Last Meeting ( Feb 22, 2022 ) Toronto 3, Columbus 4
Preventing goals is an ongoing problem for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They will continue working on that Monday night when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The leaky Leafs failed to hold a 4-3 lead Saturday night, allowing three third-period goals (one into an empty net) in losing 6-4 at home to the Vancouver Canucks.
That followed a listless 5-1 home loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.
Petr Mrazek was in goal against Buffalo and Jack Campbell played in goal against Vancouver. But the problem is more than goaltending.
"We've done a better job of defending the rush, but some of those issues around our net have come up," Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said after Saturday's game. "I'd say Jack did a good job. We have to do better in front on loose pucks and tips."
"We just weren't doing a good enough job in front of our net and helping out (Campbell) and obviously that led to them grabbing the lead in the third," said Maple Leafs captain John Tavares, who ended a 14-game goalless drought with his 18th of the season in the first period on Saturday. "We generated a lot, I thought we did a lot of good things, but we've got to take care of in front of our net a lot better."
Toronto's goaltenders want to see better out of themselves as well.
"I'm not happy with giving up any goals ever, so it's unacceptable, but trying to let it roll off a little bit easier now and I know I can be better for the team," said Campbell, who is known to be hard on himself. "It's disappointing to not get the win when we played so well but I appreciate the fans still supporting me and the team and I promise I'll get out of it and get on a roll again."
Mrazek is scheduled to start in goal against Columbus.
The Blue Jackets are 1-1-2 with one game left on their five-game homestand after losing 5-4 in a shootout to the Boston Bruins on Saturday.
"Great game to watch," said Columbus right winger Jakub Voracek, who tied the game with three seconds remaining in regulation. "Fast, physical, great saves. A win at the end would be even better."
A Blue Jackets record home crowd of 19,434 watched a pregame ceremony for the retirement of Rick Nash's No. 61.
"The fans are so awesome here," Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. "We're playing on a back-to-back here and (the Bruins) are rested, and it's a pretty good hockey team with Boston, so you're already worried about what (we're) going to have in the tank. But that ‘Fifth Line' (fan support), it carries them through. It gives them energy and I think they were real big for us tonight."
Patrik Laine had two assists on Saturday for Columbus. He has 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in his past 16 games.
Laine scored the overtime winner on Feb. 22 against the visiting Maple Leafs. Toronto won 5-4 at home on Dec. 7 against Columbus.
Jake Muzzin (concussion) remains out for Toronto and Ondrej Kase (upper-body injury) and Rasmus Sandin (illness) are not scheduled to play in Columbus.
--Field Level Media