Kirill Marchenko came back to Nationwide Arena and found the scoresheet against the club he once called home, helping the Toronto Maple Leafs roll past the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2 on Tuesday. The winger’s power-play goal began a Toronto response that turned a tight first period into a comfortable road win.
Marchenko’s return sparks Toronto
The game marked the first matchup between the teams since Sept. 28, when a six-player trade sent Matthew Knies to Columbus and brought Marchenko to Toronto. Marchenko later signed a six-year, $75 million contract with the Maple Leafs, carrying a $12.5 million annual cap hit.
Columbus went ahead 2:38 into the opening period when Jake Christiansen scored for the first time since Dec. 21, 2024. Marchenko answered on the power play at 8:16, stationed at the right post as Auston Matthews’ shot redirected off his skate and into the net.
The goal drew boos from the home crowd, but Marchenko said he was prepared for that reception.
“It was definitely special, but I tried to stay with my game,” Marchenko said. “I focus on what I can handle: my shifts, working hard. It was fun to come back, and I’m grateful for the fans and everyone who was here during my four years. I have positive memories of this place.”
On the reaction after his goal, he added that it did not alter his approach.
“That’s fine. I was ready for it,” Marchenko said. “I appreciate the fans from when I played here, but I can’t control that. I just try to do my job and improve.”
Four-goal second period breaks it open
Toronto, playing the second half of a road back-to-back after beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 on Monday, simplified its game and overwhelmed Columbus during a 9:37 stretch in the middle frame.
- William Nylander snapped a wrist shot home from the right circle at 2:26 for a 2-1 lead.
- Matthews made it 3-1 only 46 seconds later, finishing from the left side after Jack Roslovic sent a pass across the zone.
- Easton Cowan scored short-handed at 6:48, stretching the margin to three goals.
- Roslovic completed the surge at 12:03, converting a backdoor feed from Morgan Rielly for a 5-1 score.
Cowan said he saw an opening with the Columbus goaltender leaning toward Nylander.
“I got a pretty good shot away,” Cowan said. “He was favoring Nylander, and I probably would have done the same thing. I picked a spot and it felt good.”
Rielly recorded three assists, while Cowan and Roslovic each finished with a goal and two helpers. Matthews and Nylander each posted a goal and an assist. Toronto improved to 5-4-2 and has won two in a row after a three-game losing streak.
“On the second night of a back-to-back, especially away from home, you want to keep things simple,” Rielly said. “Everybody did that really well. Our goalie was outstanding.”
Anthony Stolarz made 35 saves for the Maple Leafs. Toronto also lost defenseman Jake McCabe at 13:05 of the first period after he took a high stick to the face; he did not return.
Columbus searching for answers
Charlie Coyle scored from the side of the net while down on his stomach at 4:13 of the third, trimming the Columbus deficit to 5-2. Marshall Rifai restored Toronto’s four-goal edge at 16:58, scoring his first NHL goal in his fifth career game.
Jet Greaves surrendered five goals on 19 shots over 32:03 before Cam Talbot entered in relief. Talbot stopped two of the three shots he faced.
The Blue Jackets fell to 3-5-0 and have dropped four of their past five games. Coach Rick Bowness said his club gave Toronto’s best players too much room.
“I did not expect that,” Bowness said. “We had good meetings today and I believed we were ready. We made it too easy for their top players, and they made us pay.”
Knies, facing Toronto for the first time since the trade, had three shots and two hits but left disappointed with Columbus’ effort.
“It was strange, honestly,” Knies said. “But when I look back at it, I’m frustrated that we didn’t win and didn’t give a good effort. There is much more in this group. We all know there is more to give, and that’s what will hurt us right now.”
Coyle pointed to discipline as an immediate issue.
“We need to stay out of the penalty box,” Coyle said. “We keep repeating the same things, and I don’t even want to be sitting here saying them again. We have to solve this. Some of it should have been handled weeks ago.”
Milestones from the night
- Matthews scored his 436th NHL goal in his 700th game, matching Pavel Bure for sixth place in goals through 700 career games. Wayne Gretzky leads that group with 589, followed by Mario Lemieux with 580, Mike Bossy with 542, Brett Hull with 504 and Jari Kurri with 454.
- Cowan became Toronto’s first player aged 21 or younger to score a short-handed goal since Mitch Marner did so on Feb. 14, 2019.
- Rifai’s late goal was the first of his NHL career.
