Adam Fantilli scored his first career hat trick as the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 on Wednesday night.
Luca Del Bel Belluz added a goal and an assist and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Blue Jackets, who have won seven of nine (7-1-1).
Elvis Merzlikins was often spectacular in stopping 28 shots for Columbus. The Blue Jackets are 1-1-1 on their four-game road trip.
Auston Matthews scored and Dennis Hildeby made 14 saves for the Maple Leafs, who had a three-game winning streak end.
Toronto had the advantage in play for much of the first period, and William Nylander was foiled on a breakaway.
Columbus broke through when Fantilli scored his first career short-handed goal on a shot from the left circle at 15:40 of the opening period. Ivan Provorov set up Fantilli with a pass into the neutral zone. Mathieu Olivier also earned an assist.
Columbus struck against the flow of play at 13:40 of the second period when former Maple Leaf van Riemsdyk scored from the slot. Del Bel Belluz made the setup pass, and Kent Johnson also assisted.
Fantilli scored again at 15:21 of the second when he pounced on a loose puck at the edge of the crease after circling behind the net. Dmitri Voronkov and Zach Werenski earned assists.
Del Bel Belluz scored unassisted from the edge of the crease at 5:56 of the third period for a 4-0 lead.
Soon after the goal, Nylander hit the post with a backhand shot.
Matthews scored on a 5-foot shot at 9:22 of the third with Nylander and Oliver Eckman-Larsson assisting. Matthews has a five-game scoring streak in which he has produced six goals.
Fantilli scored into an empty net at 12:02 of the third. The 20-year-old was playing in his 97th career NHL game.
Toronto’s Matthew Knies (upper-body injury) was injured late in the second period after taking a hit, and he did not return.
Cole Sillinger (upper-body injury) and Denton Mateychuk (illness) did not play for Columbus.
The Blue Jackets defeated the Maple Leafs 6-2 at Columbus on Oct. 22.
–Field Level Media
