Overview

• Adam Fantilli, playing in front of family and friends in Toronto, scored his first NHL hat trick, including a short-handed goal and an empty-netter.
• Elvis Merzlikins made 29 saves for Columbus, delivering a strong performance despite concerns over a potential pre-game injury.
• The Blue Jackets improved their record to 7-1-1 in their last nine games and moved into the Eastern Conference's first wild-card position.
• Toronto's Auston Matthews extended his scoring streak to five games with a consolation goal, but the team's three-game winning streak was snapped.
• Toronto's Matthew Knies left the game with an upper-body injury in the second period and did not return.