Andersen makes 54 saves for Maple Leafs in win against Blue Jackets

TORONTO-- Frederik Andersen made 54 saves, and Nazem Kadri had a hat trick with two assists for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 6-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday.

"I was prepared for that; I know they've been throwing a lot of pucks on the net the last few games," Andersen said. "It's fun to face a lot of shots, especially when we boxed out to make sure I had a good lane to see the puck."
Kadri took a cross-ice pass from Marner at 11:21 of the third period to make it 5-3 and complete his fourth NHL hat trick. The five points are his single-game high.
WATCH: [All Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs highlights]
"It's always a thrill to score three and contribute offensively," Kadri said. "That's what makes the game the most fun, that's what attracts you when you first start playing, is to put the puck in the back of the net."
Patrick Marleau had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs (35-19-5), who have won five in a row and nine of their past 10. Toronto trails the Boston Bruins by three points for second place in the Atlantic Division.

Nick Foligno scored twice, and Joonas Korpisalo made 22 saves for the Blue Jackets (29-24-4), who are 2-5-1 in their past eight games. Columbus trails the Carolina Hurricanes by one point for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
The Blue Jackets are the second NHL team to take at least 50 shots on goal in three straight games (Chicago Blackhawks, Oct. 9-15, 1955). Columbus took 51 in a 4-1 win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, and 50 in a 6-1 win against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
"I hate saying this because results are what matter, but yeah, I really felt like we deserved a better fate today," Foligno said. "Maybe that's how they felt last game we played here when we came back on them late (a 3-2 overtime win Jan. 8). That's part of it, but we've got to find a way to get wins and string them together and tonight we didn't get it done."

The Maple Leafs swept a homestand of at least five games for the first time in their history.
"Mitch [Marner] and Nazem and Marleau had it on a string, they scored enough that the rest of us could leave here with a win," Toronto coach Mike Babcock said. "Freddie, I mean, Freddie was outstanding."
Kadri made it 3-2 at 8:03 of the second period with his 20th goal of the season when he one-timed a pass from Morgan Rielly in the slot. Toronto went up 4-2 at 10:17 when Marner one-timed a backhand pass from Kadri on a 2-on-1.
The Blue Jackets made it 4-3 at 14:35 when Jack Johnson shot from the top of the left face-off circle with Oliver Bjorkstrand screening the goaltender.

Marleau scored into an empty net to make it 6-3 with 1:13 left in the third period.
The Maple Leafs took a 1-0 lead 4:38 into the first period on Dominic Moore's backhand from below the right face-off dot. Kadri put Toronto up 2-0 at 7:36 with a wrist shot from the right face-off dot.
The Blue Jackets made it 2-1 at 18:21 when Foligno took a pass in the slot from Alex Wennberg and scored with a backhand.
Foligno scored at 2:25 of the second period to tie it 2-2 when he took a pass from Wennberg at the top of the crease.

Goal of the game

Kadri's goal at 11:21 of the third period.

Save of the game

Andersen's save on Boone Jenner at 7:57 of the third period.

Highlight of the game

Marner's goal at 10:17 of the second period.

They said it

"We have a mindset of shooting the puck, not so much always for scoring goals but to create a forecheck. It's something we felt was missing in our game for quite a while, so we have really encouraged and done a lot of work with video and in practice to get the puck to the net as best we can. You may not score, but you'll certainly get some zone time." -- Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella
"They definitely try to go to the net, but we did a good job of making sure that I had a clean view on most of the shots. I think that was key to be able to withstand all those shots." -- Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen

Need to know

Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner did not return after playing 5:44 in the first period. Babcock said he had a lower-body spasm and did not say if he will miss any games. ... Kadri has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in his past 10 games. ... Josh Anderson led the Blue Jackets with eight shots in 17:00. Brandon Dubinsky was minus-3 in 15:42 and the only Columbus player to not have a shot.

What's next

Blue Jackets: Host the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, FS-O, NBCSP, NHL.TV)
Maple Leafs: At the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, ATTSN-PT, NHL.TV)