Marchenko scores in Columbus return, Maple Leafs pull away from Blues Jackets

COLUMBUS -- Kirill Marchenko scored in his return against his former team, and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2 at Nationwide Arena on Tuesday.

Marchenko, who was acquired on Sept. 28 as part of a six-player deal that saw Matthew Knies go to Columbus, signed a six-year $75 million contract ($12.5 million average annual value) with Toronto. The game was the first meeting between the teams since the trade.

“It was especially nice for sure, but I tried to think about my game,” Marchenko said. “I try to focus on things that I can control. It's my game, my shifts, like work hard.

“It's obviously a special game, fun and everything, but happy to play here, happy to be back. And thank you again for all fans, for everybody who's been here when I was here for four years. I have only positive notes.”

Easton Cowan and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and two assists, and Auston Matthews and William Nylander each had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs (5-4-2), who have won two straight following a three-game skid. Morgan Rielly had three assists, and Anthony Stolarz made 35 saves.

Toronto was coming off a 3-1 win against the San Jose Sharks on Monday.

“On a back to back, you want to try to play simple, especially on the road,” Rielly said. “I thought everyone did a good job, outstanding. I thought the goalie was outstanding.”

Jake Christiansen scored for the Blue Jackets (3-5-0), who have lost four of five (1-4-0). Jet Greaves allowed five goals on 19 shots in 32:03 before being replaced by Cam Talbot, who stopped two of three shots in relief.

“I didn't see that coming,” Columbus coach Rick Bowness said. “Had good meetings today and thought we were ready to go. We made it a little too easy on their top-down guys. They made us pay the price.”

Knies had three shots on goal and two hits against his former team.

“It was weird, to be honest,” Knies said. “But I guess the only way I can look back at this is just frustrated that we didn't win and didn't put together a good effort.”

“There’s just a lot more in this group, a lot more, a lot more to give. So, that's the thing that's going to bite us right now is that we know that there's more.”

Christiansen gave Columbus a 1-0 lead at 2:38 of the first period with his first goal since Dec. 21, 2024.

Marchenko’s power-play goal tied it 1-1 at 8:16. He was at the right post when a shot from Matthews deflected in off his skate, bringing a chorus of boos directed toward him.

“It's fine, I've been ready for that,” Marchenko said. “But again, I can't control that. I appreciate all fans who's been here when I played. It doesn't matter for me, actually. I just do my work and I try to be better.”

The Maple Leafs then scored four goals in a 9:37 span of the second period to pull away for a 5-1 lead.

Nylander put Toronto ahead 2-1 at 2:26 with a wrist shot from the right circle. Matthews, playing in his 700th NHL game, extended it to 3-1 just 46 seconds later with a shot from the left wing after a cross-ice pass by Roslovic.

Cowan scored short-handed at 6:48 to make it 4-1.

“I had a decent shot there,” Cowan said. “I think the goalie was favoring (Nylander), which I probably would too. I just picked my spot, so it felt good.”

Roslovic made it 5-1 at 12:03, converting a backdoor pass by Rielly.

Charlie Coyle cut it to 5-2 at 4:13 of the third period, scoring while on his stomach from the side of the net.

“We have to stay out of the box,” Coyle said. “We're saying the same stuff over and over and I really don't want to even sit here and say it. It's just stuff we need to figure out right now. There's stuff we should have figured out weeks ago.”

Marshall Rifai then scored his first NHL goal in his fifth career game at 16:58 for the 6-2 final.

NOTES: Matthews scored his 436th goal in his 700th career game, tying Pavel Bure for the sixth most by a player through the milestone contest in NHL history, behind Wayne Gretzky (589 goals), Mario Lemieux (580), Mike Bossy (542), Brett Hull (504) and Jari Kurri (454). … Cowan became the first Maple Leafs player age 21 or younger to score a short-handed goal since Mitch Marner on Feb. 14, 2019. … Toronto defenseman Jake McCabe left at 13:05 of the first period and did not return after taking a high stick to the face.