Another heartbreaking loss for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Once again, Columbus had the game right where they wanted it… and once again, they couldn’t finish the job.This was the final matchup of the season between the Jackets and the Maple Leafs, and Toronto walks away winning two of the three meetings. Columbus pushed hard all night, but the same problem returned — they can’t close out tight games.
1st Period — Strong Start, Missed Chances
Columbus came out with energy and played one of their best opening periods of the month. They generated three power-play opportunities, controlled the puck, and outshot Toronto 11–6 in the first.
But Joseph Woll kept the Leafs alive. He was sharp right away, tracking pucks cleanly and shutting down every look Columbus created, including two good chances from Chinakhov and Fantilli on the man advantage. The Jackets did everything right except finish.
2nd Period — Tight, Physical, but Still 0–0
The middle frame tightened up on both sides. Columbus had a goal from Zach Werenski overturned on an offside review, a tough break that killed the building momentum. Defensively, the Jackets stayed structured, and Jet Greaves made several calm saves to keep things scoreless. Shots were close, and neither team found a way to break through.
3rd Period — Jackets Push, but Toronto Answers Late
The Jackets took over early in the third and finally got rewarded. At 13:30, Zach Werenski jumped into the rush, took a perfect feed from Miles Wood, and ripped a snap shot short-side to make it 1–0 Columbus. Nationwide Arena erupted — it felt like the breakthrough they deserved.
But once again, they couldn’t close.
With 3:17 left, the Leafs tied it when William Nylander made a slick no-look pass from behind the net to Easton Cowan, who lifted the puck over Greaves’ shoulder. A tough defensive breakdown at the worst moment.
Overtime — Another One Slips Away
Columbus pushed early in overtime and even generated a couple of clean looks, but Woll continued his excellent night. Then, with 20 seconds left, Nylander picked up a loose puck, cut into the slot, and fired the game-winner past a sliding Greaves.
Final score: 2–1 Toronto in OT.
That’s now seven overtime or shootout games in their last 10, with Columbus going 4-2-4 in that stretch. And it’s the second time in the last three games they’ve blown a third-period lead, including Saturday’s 4-3 OT loss in Detroit.
Even without Kirill Marchenko and Mathieu Olivier — both day-to-day — the Jackets battled hard and played well enough to win. But finishing continues to be a major issue, and it cost them another point.
Werenski’s Take
Werenski summed it up perfectly:
“We don’t want to lose a lead like that again… I’m sure everyone’s sick of it.”
The Jackets are competing every night. They’re in almost every game late. But until they learn how to finish, they’ll keep dropping valuable points in the standings.
NOTES
Zach Werenski scored his 121st NHL goal, passing R.J. Umberger for 5th on the Blue Jackets’ all-time list. Rookie forward Luca Pinelli logged 16:20 with two shots in his NHL debut. Veteran defenseman Brendan Smith also made his Columbus debut after signing a one-year, two-way deal on Monday, finishing with two shots and one hit in 10:55. The Blue Jackets have now blown a third-period lead in two of their last three games, including Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss in Detroit after leading 3-1 in the third period.
GAME STATS
| Stat | Toronto | Columbus |
| Shots | 24 | 36 |
| Faceoff % | 59.3% | 40.7% |
| Power Play | 0/2 | 0/3 |
| Penalty Minutes | 8 | 6 |
| Hits | 21 | 20 |
| Blocked Shots | 13 | 12 |
| Giveaways | 19 | 15 |
| Takeaways | 6 | 4 |
Blue Jackets Players Highlights
Zach Werenski 1G 1PTS TOI 28:40 6SOG 1BLK
Jett Greaves 2 goals on 24 shots SV% .917
Adam Fantilli TOI 20:21 7SOG
Three Stars of the Game
- Joseph Woll (TOR) — 35 saves, .972 SV%, 0.93 GAA
- William Nylander (TOR) — 1G, 1A, 2PTS, OT winner
- Jet Greaves (CBJ) — 22 saves, .917 SV%, 1.86 GAA
Final Thoughts
Another tough one for the Blue Jackets. This team continues to battle, continues to put itself in position to win games, and once again walks away with only one point. That makes seven games that have gone to extra time in their last ten — a wild stretch where Columbus holds a 4-2-4 record but easily could have collected more wins.
Playing without Kirill Marchenko and Matthew Olivier — both sidelined and listed day-to-day — the Jackets still pushed Toronto for 60 minutes and outshot them 36–24. But the pattern remains the same: a strong effort, a late goal against, and an overtime heartbreak.
Columbus isn’t far off. The compete level is there, the structure is improving, and they’re in every game. But until they find a way to close out tight third periods, these single points will continue to feel like missed opportunities.
Next Game
The Blue Jackets are back in action at home on Friday night, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at 7:00 PM EDT. Another division rival, another big test, and another chance for Columbus to finally finish a close game on home ice.
