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# Recap: Leafs dump Blue Jackets
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/recap-maple-leafs-dump-columbus-blue-jackets/
- Published: 2025-04-06T01:37:33.000Z
- Updated: 2025-04-06T01:37:33.000Z
- Description: That has to be the end of their playoff hopes.
- Author: Cathy Squires
- Tags: Game Coverage

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/04/Gnzm2j1WYAAGz7v-1-.jpg)

### First Period

Columbus came out hard right from the start, and the Leafs struggled fairly often to get out of the zone. When they got out, though, they got good offensive chances, one after the other. 

> big stop from Stolarz early [pic.twitter.com/g7bl1QzXdt](https://t.co/g7bl1QzXdt?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 5, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908660442055999698?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Knies tries to go stick side on Merzlikins   
>  
> nice board pass from OEL [pic.twitter.com/X4sB5G68Sl](https://t.co/X4sB5G68Sl?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 5, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908661375255077302?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Nylander to Tavares [pic.twitter.com/wlT5DavBe1](https://t.co/wlT5DavBe1?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 5, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908663247223259472?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

And then finally there was a goal:

> the pass, the shot [pic.twitter.com/enfAqDT6TZ](https://t.co/enfAqDT6TZ?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 5, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908665145405878636?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Columbus with the only power play: 

> Laughton is called for cross checking [pic.twitter.com/XUE1zTahbe](https://t.co/XUE1zTahbe?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 5, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908665545148555628?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Matt Knies, who was a beast in this period, came so close: 

> Knies went for the Michigan [pic.twitter.com/Y9NjEVNmPa](https://t.co/Y9NjEVNmPa?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 5, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908668384629096559?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

After one it was 1-0 Leafs.

Gotta say it seemed like the Leafs had more action than this: 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/04/Capture.PNG)

### Second Period

The second period saw the Leafs generate offence about the same as they did in the first with similar problems solving Elvis Merzlikins. The difference was Columbus cooled right down and the Leafs easily kept them from getting quality shots off.

> Marner's pokecheck frees the puck  
>  
> Knies chases it down and heads to the net [pic.twitter.com/wZgdBF6vzF](https://t.co/wZgdBF6vzF?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908674251088879985?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

It's been a game with a lot of falling, but this was a good recovery: 

> Domi falls but keeps the puck moving into the offensive zone [pic.twitter.com/hWIONQXCcd](https://t.co/hWIONQXCcd?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908674930440360191?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Prior to the fight that blew up, these two committed several penalties and the refs ignored them. 

> how Lorentz vs Kuraly started [pic.twitter.com/im24oFMkFD](https://t.co/im24oFMkFD?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908675906802966602?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Lorentz vs Kuraly [pic.twitter.com/rqmD6PZMOc](https://t.co/rqmD6PZMOc?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908675663738933475?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Marner finds Matthews breaking through   
>  
> Matthews uses that hand-eye to keep the puck off the rebound [pic.twitter.com/jSndoi53MW](https://t.co/jSndoi53MW?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908676838286565714?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Robertson has 14 on the season   
>  
> hat trick watch is on [pic.twitter.com/Q91kPMq1J5](https://t.co/Q91kPMq1J5?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908679610826469749?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

After two it was 2-0 Leafs.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/04/20242025-21216-5v5.png)

Nothing coming from the Blue Jackets here that is very dangerous.

So, the line on Nick Robertson is "All he does is score goals, why isn't he in the lineup?" The answer is in the question. But he's been in the lineup more than Pontus Holmberg or David Kämpf as well as several others. 

The issue here is that because Nick Robertson doesn't do anything but score goals, he has to do that nothing without causing harm in order to stay in the lineup. In other words, he has to be a net benefit on the bottom six. That's a tough job for a guy with no ability to generate offence in general. He scores or nothing happens. Or if you like that in points-ese, he has fewer assists than David Kämpf in more games played. 

This is how hard Robertson tries to make that equation work out for him: 

> goals are one thing  
>  
> this is another [pic.twitter.com/KSGBAo7kbr](https://t.co/KSGBAo7kbr?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908693773460062249?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

### Third Period

William Nylander opened the third period with a goal right after Morgan Rielly had a great chance. 

> WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨  
>  
> 43rd of the season! [pic.twitter.com/CjssuVQrqz](https://t.co/CjssuVQrqz?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908687185642930324?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> Knies and Fabbro are given roughing penalties [pic.twitter.com/ZOXwZ2DVLu](https://t.co/ZOXwZ2DVLu?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908688224525918643?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

And three minutes later he did it again. Little more of an individual effort this time. 

> WILLIAM NYLANDER 🚨🚨  
>  
> Bad change by Columbus! [pic.twitter.com/UPaPw8IS2y](https://t.co/UPaPw8IS2y?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908688645755634075?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Simon Benoit almost had a fight with Mathieu Olivier, but it was really just talking and hugging. Lucky for Benoit. 

> Benoit vs Olivier [pic.twitter.com/7qBShk57NC](https://t.co/7qBShk57NC?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908691063021171196?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Elvis Merzlikins was penalized for being a goalie. 

> Merzlikins was called for tripping on Knies [pic.twitter.com/P8wpM3mxek](https://t.co/P8wpM3mxek?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908691268869255444?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

The Leafs produced a very, very good power play, but Merzlikins wasn't letting anything in. 

> thankfully Robertson got up from this hit  
>  
> could've been way worse [pic.twitter.com/joqoH5QyJg](https://t.co/joqoH5QyJg?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908692157688410337?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

> two looks for Knies on that power play [pic.twitter.com/Dke1OpWO4g](https://t.co/Dke1OpWO4g?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908692429806383497?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

Auston Matthews was bored with power plays so he scored on a delayed penalty call. 

> Knies goes to war   
>  
> solid feed from Marner to Matthews [pic.twitter.com/C3FLsCWiqb](https://t.co/C3FLsCWiqb?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)
> 
> — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) [April 6, 2025](https://twitter.com/TicTacTOmar/status/1908694655492866284?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/34/01/3401a938-f468-4c02-a227-9bc4cc09bad4/content/images/2025/04/20242025-21216-all.png)

Late in the third period, you can see the Leafs just ran away with this game.

Final score was 5-0 Leafs. Never in doubt. (Matt Knies, though, what a game.)

Next games are on the road Tuesday and Wednesday against Florida and Tampa.