AP

Tavares scores 2, Maple Leafs beat Blue Jackets 3-0

Feb 10, 2023, 4:44 AM | Updated: 7:25 pm

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, right, scores against Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Joonas...

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, right, scores against Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

(AP Photo/Paul Vernon)


              Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly, left, and Columbus Blue Jackets forward Eric Robinson watch the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
            
              Columbus Blue Jackets forward Liam Foudy, left, reaches for the puck next to Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Mark Giordano during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
            
              Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, right, controls the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Eric Robinson during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
            
              Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine, right, chases the puck in front of Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joey Anderson during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
            
              Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov, left, makes a stop in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner, right, and Maple leafs defenseman TJ Brodie during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
            
              Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander, left, controls the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Boone Jenner during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
            
              Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo, right, makes a stop in front of Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kampf, left, and Blue Jackets defenseman Nick Blankenburg during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
            
              Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitchell Marner, left, controls the puck in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Patrik Laine during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
            
              Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, right, scores against Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Joonas Korpisalo during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — John Tavares scored twice and Ilya Samsonov stopped 30 shots for his third shutout of the season, leading the Toronto Maple Leafs over the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Friday night to snap a three-game road losing streak.

Pierre Engvall also scored and Mitch Marner added two assists for Toronto, which remains in second place in the Atlantic Division with 72 points — 11 points behind first-place Boston.

“I thought we played a pretty solid and patient game,” Toronto coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We didn’t give up a lot and extended our lead in the third period, which is what you want to do.”

Joonas Korpisalo had 41 saves for Columbus, which has lost four straight and remains last in the NHL standings.

Tavares put Toronto up at 5:45 of the first period with his team-lead-tying 10th power-play goal of the season, slipped between Korpisalo’s pads.

“We did some good things, got involved,” Tavares said. “I think after the first period we controlled the neutral zone.”

Korpisalo kept Columbus in the game through two periods, stopping 27 shots, before Toronto took charge in the third period, burying goals 48 seconds apart from Engvall and Tavares for a 3-0 lead at 8:38.

“(We) were a shot away for a long time,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said. “We actually had a couple of decent looks there at the end of the second and early in the third, and then they get those two quick ones on us.”

WELCOME BACK

The Blue Jackets recalled D Tim Berni from Cleveland of the AHL. … The Maple Leafs recalled F Pontus Holmberg, F Alex Steeves and G Joseph Woll from Toronto of the AHL after putting G Matt Murray on injured reserve.

ON POINT

The Maple Leafs have earned at least one point in seven consecutive games against Columbus (5-0-2).

HURRY UP AND WAIT

Lane Pederson, claimed off waivers from Vancouver before the All-Star break, remained on the sidelines as he does not yet have the proper documentation to join the Blue Jackets on the ice.

STREAKING

Marner’s assists extended his point streak to five games and Morgan Rielly’s assist on Engvall’s goal extended his point streak to three games.

UP NEXT

Maple Leafs: Host Columbus on Saturday night to finish the home-and home.

Blue Jackets: At Toronto on Saturday night.

___

AP NHL: www.apnews.com/hub/NHL and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Tavares scores 2, Maple Leafs beat Blue Jackets 3-0