Korpisalo Records First Franchise Shutout to Down Leafs

Wall broken! The Blue Jackets hand the Maple Leafs a game one loss in what was a defensive showdown.

The first period saw Columbus lockdown the Leafs high octane offence keeping them to the outside for most of the period or locked down in their own defensive zone just cycling the puck away.  The Leafs broke through once or twice, hitting the bar on an Austin Matthews shot and one of only a few rebounds that fell on Alexander Kerfoot’s stick but he couldn’t quite tuck it in. On the other end, the Leafs gave up very few chances of their own and played very solid defensively not allowing the Blue Jackets to breakthrough.

The Second period was much of the same Columbus lock down the middle of the ice and the Leafs making sure it all stays outside. The Leafs breakthrough came courtesy of Auston Matthews by the way of a one-timer. Unfortunately, Joonas Korpisalo was up to the task and robbed Matthews of a sure goal. Columbus came on stronger towards the end of the period and seemingly looked like they were ready to score the first one. But Frederik Andersen stood on his ensuring that the Blue Jackets were not gonna take the lead in this game.

The Third period is where the game would change. At 19:05 of the third period, Cam Atkinson of the Blue Jackets would fly down the wing and snipe a perfectly aimed shot right under the arm of Andersen giving the Jackets a 1-0 lead. Columbus would set back into their stingy defence and smother the Leafs all the way to the end. Korpisalo would make some good saves to hold the lead until the end, but it was the ineffectiveness of the Leafs offence that led to their demise.  Columbus Alexander Wennberg would add an empty net to make the final 2-0 Columbus and give them a 1-0 series lead.