Maple Leafs stage furious comeback with 3 goals in 3 minutes, defeat Blue Jackets in OT

It has become a popular axiom that a three-goal lead is the most dangerous lead in sports, something that has certainly held true for this iteration of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

When all hope was lost, the Maple Leafs’ offense, largely listless throughout the series, staged a furious comeback to send Game 4 against the Columbus Blue Jackets into overtime.

With just under four minutes remaining, the Blue Jackets held a commanding 3-0 lead, appearing certain to eliminate the Maple Leafs in crushing fashion.

Cue the comeback.

William Nylander put the Maple Leafs on the board, tucking a loose puck from in front of the net to cut the deficit to 3-1. At this point, the goal horn almost sounded insulting, but the Leafs were galvanized.

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares scored his second goal of the series 51 seconds later, injecting a late burst life into a team that looked ready to be going home.

During a frantic sequence, the Maple Leafs continued to put pressure on the Blue Jackets, who suddenly began to crumble as Zach Hyman took a cross-ice feed from Auston Matthews and wired it past Elvis Merzlikins, tying the game at 3-3 against all odds with 23 seconds left.

Matthews, who has been far and away the Maple Leafs’ best player throughout the series and season, scored the winner. And now the Leafs live to fight another day.

More to come.

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