|
 Phil Kessel scored as part of a three-point performance, Nazem
Kadri added a goal and an assist and David Clarkson also tallied for
the Maple Leafs, who have outscored the Sabres and Blue Jackets 8-1
in back-to-back victories. Jonathan Bernier turned aside 28 shots to
preserve the win.
Cam Atkinson netted a power-play goal for Columbus, which is without
eight regulars and looked overmatched for most of the night. Curtis
McElhinney made 23 saves in his second straight start in place of
Sergei Bobrovsky (broken finger).
 Kessel opened the scoring with 4:32 remaining in the opening period,
firing a shot from just off the right edge of the crease that snuck
past McElhinney and barely crossed the line. Clarkson extended the
advantage at 12:13 of the middle frame, as his redirection of
captain Dion Phaneuf's point shot bounced off the ice and skipped
past McElhinney.
Toronto took control at 2:38 of the third, as Kadri jousted a Kessel
feed past McElhinney from the top of the crease to end a six-game
goalless drought. Columbus finally broke through at 10:40 as
Atkinson jabbed a loose puck between Bernier's pads, but the Toronto
netminder kept the Blue Jackets at bay and Winnik iced things with
3:33 left.
[to top of second column] |
GAME NOTEBOOK: Columbus C Ryan Johansen assisted on Atkinson's goal
to extend his point streak to 10 games, equaling the franchise
record set by R.J. Umberger in 2010. ... Toronto announced prior to
the game that F Joffrey Lupul suffered a broken hand during
Thursday's practice and is out indefinitely. ... Winnik's goal was
the 50th of his career.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
