The Blue Jackets lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in their home opener, a 4-1 final.
After a season-opening win on Wednesday night at home, the Maple Leafs started this game flat-footed and were fortunate to not fall behind early.
The Blue Jackets got the better of the Leafs in the first 10 minutes by putting heavy pressure on their defense, but a power play put the Leafs on the board first. Columbus found its game in the second, and once again put pressure on the Leafs. A goal by Ceci extended the Leafs' lead, but the Jackets roared back after a power play goal gave them energy at the end of the second.
Here are tonight’s three things.
Penalty Kill Disappoints Early
On their first penalty kill of the season, the Blue Jackets gave up a goal only eight seconds into the power play. John Tavares beat Boone Jenner off the draw with a little help from Mitch Marner, and the Leafs were able to set up shop in the zone.
A quick pass from Marner inside to Tavares caused the Jackets to over-commit and opened a shooting lane for Marner on the left dot. Tavares gave the puck right back to Marner, and the puck found the back of the net before Joonas Korpisalo could react.
Korpisalo Left Out to Dry
Korpisalo saw plenty of pucks come his way throughout the game due to the Blue Jackets taking too many penalties – and their coverage was spotty at times in the defensive zone.
Korpisalo had no chance on the first Marner goal, and on the second goal by Cody Ceci, a great screen out front took Korpisalo's eyes away. The Jackets allowed Marner to attack the net and get to a high scoring area on the third goal, while the fourth goal – another power play goal – was a great shot off the stick of Matthews.
Here is the play that led to Korpisalo's anger. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/jtqV8wXjwT
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 5, 2019
Cam Atkinson Ties NHL Record
Atkinson capitalized off of a mistake by Andersen off the draw, and slid the puck beneath him to put the Blue Jackets on the board in the second period. With that goal, he tied an NHL record with a goal in his sixth straight season-opening game.
YES WE CAM.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/lEQI622sZT
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) October 5, 2019
