Blue Jackets edge Maple Leafs to end 4-game skid

TORONTO -- Kent Johnson broke a tie at 5:46 of the third period to help the Columbus Blue Jackets defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3 at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

Johnson, who also had an assist, put the Blue Jackets ahead 4-3 when he deflected Cole Sillinger's shot at the top of the crease after getting inside position on Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl. The goal was reviewed but upheld after it was determined that Johnson's stick was at or below the height of the crossbar when he deflected the puck.
"A little bit (nervous)," Johnson said. "It was the first time I had one of those (reviews) on a goal, so I was a little nervous, but great it worked out."

Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko each had a goal and an assist, and Elvis Merzlikins made 27 saves for the Blue Jackets (16-33-4), who had lost four straight (0-3-1).
"This is a top five team in the NHL, they've been building for years," Columbus coach Brad Larsen said. "It's not like they just got themselves on the map. They've been coming for a while, this core that they have, so we have to slowly build here.
"It's been tough sledding with the injuries and everything we've gone through, but there's moments within the season we can grow. Not having the best first that we wanted but then responding with the second and responding with the third."
William Nylander had a goal and an assist, and Mitchell Marner had two assists for the Maple Leafs (32-14-8).
"Effort, competitiveness," Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. "You've got to make the decision how important it is to you. That's really it."
Joseph Woll made 36 saves in his season debut. He was 3-1-0 with a 2.76 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in four games for Toronto last season, all of which were on the road.
"That was a pretty awesome atmosphere to play in," Woll said. "It's pretty special playing in front of our home crowd. Unfortunately, we didn't get the win for them, but definitely an experience I'll remember."

Jenner cut the lead to 2-1 at 4:21 of the second period when he got to a loose puck in the slot and shot blocker side. Marchenko, who has 14 goals, had the assist on the play, his first in the NHL (30th game)
Marchenko then tied it 2-2 at 15:01, converting on a rebound at the top of the crease after Jenner cut to the net and put a backhand on net.
Sean Kuraly gave the Blue Jackets a 3-2 lead at 15:58. Mathieu Olivier and Johnson dug the puck off Woll's pad to Kuraly, who buried a shot into an open net.
"Truthfully, I thought we were really good in the first, and then it's just like a small lapse that ends up costing you," Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said. "There's plenty of good players in this League, guy on teams all over, up and down standings. If you don't play well, and you don't play your structure and play hard and compete, they're going to make you pay.
"We just didn't play well enough. We didn't compete. They outworked, outchanced us, and take over the game. You put yourself in a difficult situation."
After trailing 2-0 and being outshot 11-4 after the first period, Columbus outshot Toronto 21-10 in the second.
"There's so many times where you come in with a good second and then the third, they take over again. It happens all the time," Larsen said. "I don't love that we got scored on [in the third], I loved how we responded after we got scored on. We came back and we just stuck to the game plan, and that's a great sign."
Rielly tied it 3-3 at 1:20 of the third period on a power play when he one-timed a pass from Marner at the bottom of the right face-off circle.
"That's a spot we want to get better at, going into the third with a lead, learning how to defend," Jenner said. "That was a gutsy win. They got one early, and then we found one in the third. A lot of blocks, a lot of great efforts defensively, and listen, we got the job done, so it feels good when you win that one."

Nylander gave the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead at 2:39 of the first period when he took a stretch pass from Alex Kerfoot and scored with a shot from the top of the left face-off circle that deflected off Nick Blankenburg's stick and over Merzlikins' glove.
Michael Bunting made it 2-0 at 10:40, scoring shot short side from the left face-off dot.
NOTES: Rielly extended his point streak to four game (two goals, two assists). ... Marner extended his point streak to six games (two goals, six assists).