Blue Jackets down Maple Leafs 4-3, spoil Woll’s home debut

© Provided by The Associated Press Blue Jackets Maple Leafs Hockey

TORONTO (AP) — Kent Johnson scored the winner in the third period as the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 on Saturday night to split a back-to-back.

Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko had a goal and an assist each, and Sean Kuraly also scored for Columbus. Elvis Merzlikins had 26 saves.

© Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Michael Bunting (58) crosses into the offensive zone ahead of Columbus Blue Jackets right winger Mathieu Olivier (24) during second-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

William Nylander, Michael Bunting and Morgan Rielly each scored for Toronto. Mitchell Marner added two assists.

Joseph Woll made 36 stops for the Leafs in his first start of the season — and first home appearance of his NHL career.

© Provided by The Associated Press Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a stop on a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs right winger Mitch Marner during second-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Johnson put the Blue Jackets up for good six minutes into the third when he redirected Cole Sillinger’s shot past Woll for his 11th goal of the season. The goal was reviewed for a possible high stick, but the call on the ice was confirmed.

Toronto pulled Woll with less than three minutes remaining, but Columbus held on for just its second regulation victory in 11 games.

The Leafs led 2-0 through 20 minutes and appeared to be cruising to an easy victory before putting in perhaps their worst period of the season in a sleepy second.

Jenner got the visitors on the board at 4:21 when he snapped his 15th home from the slot off a broken play.

Marchenko tied it 2-2 with 4:59 left in the period off a Jenner rebound. Kuraly’s go-ahead goal came 57 seconds later.

The door opened for the 24-year-old Woll to play second fiddle to Ilya Samsonov after Matt Murray went down with an ankle injury before the NHL All-Star break.

© Provided by The Associated Press Blue Jackets Leafs Hockey

Woll might have been called up earlier in the season when both Murray and Samsonov were sidelined, but didn’t make his debut in the American Hockey League until late November as he worked his way back from shoulder surgery before also suffering an ankle injury while rehabbing.

© Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Zach Aston-Reese (12) battles for the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (34) during second-period NHL hockey game action Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

The 62nd pick at the 2016 NHL draft has been near-perfect in the minors since getting back to full health.

Woll, who grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, is 13-1-0 with a .930 save percentage and a 2.36 goals-against average with the Toronto Marlies. He was the top goalie in the recent AHL skill competition.

© Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs left winger Michael Bunting (58) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

WILLY STYLES

Nylander hit the 60-point mark for the fourth time in his career. The 26-year-old is on pace to crack 90 points for the first time since entering the league in 2015-16.

JOHNNY’S BEEN GOOD

© Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs right winger William Nylander (88) fights for the puck against Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (34) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Columbus winger Johnny Gaudreau picked up an assist in the second period to give him 50 points in 53 games — the quickest a player has reached the half-century mark in franchise history. The previous benchmark was held by Ray Whitney, who accomplished the feat in 56 contests.

© Provided by The Associated Press Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) makes a stop on Columbus Blue Jackets center Liam Foudy (19) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, in Toronto. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

UP NEXT

Blue Jackets: Host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.

Maple Leafs: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night.

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