Maple Leafs force Game 5 vs. Blue Jackets with come-from-behind, OT win

TORONTO (AP) — Auston Matthews scored on a power play 13:10 into overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied from a three-goal deficit in the third period to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-3 on Friday night, tying the best-of-five qualifying series at two wins apiece.

The Leafs scored three times in 3:34 to knot the score late in a game that Columbus and goalie Elvis Merzlikins had largely controlled until then. On Thursday night, the Blue Jackets had rallied from a three goals down to eventually win in overtime.

Torts keeps his postgame remarks very brief.#CBJ pic.twitter.com/22A5ioJAWX

— FOX Sports Columbus (@FOXSportsCbus) August 8, 2020

This time, with Nick Foligno in the penalty box for tripping, Matthews beat Elvis Merzlikins from the right circle to push the series to a decisive Game 5 on Sunday.

William Nylander, John Tavares and Zach Hyman scored in the third period to set up Matthews’ heroics. Frederik Andersen had 36 saves.

Cam Atkinson, Vladislav Gavrikov and Boone Jenner scored for Columbus, and Merzlikins, who started his first playoff game, recorded 49 saves.

“It’s a do-or-die game on Sunday, so it’s gotta be our best.”

Boone Jenner and Cam Atkinson break down Game 4 and look ahead to Game 5. #CBJ pic.twitter.com/s5O3hmy9GS

— FOX Sports Columbus (@FOXSportsCbus) August 8, 2020

Merzlikins and the Blue Jackets seemed to be cruising until the Toronto push in the last 4 minutes of regulation.

Atkinson got the Blue Jackets on the board first. Pierre-Luc Dubois picked up the puck in transition, raced into Toronto territory and delivered a pass across to Atkinson for the tap-in to give Columbus the lead 3:58 into the game. Later in the first, Merzlikins pounced on a loose puck inches from the line in heavy traffic to prevent Toronto from tying it.

Gavrikov got his first playoff goal when he rifled a shot over Andersen from the top of the left circle to give Columbus a 2-0 lead 4:40 into the second period. Jenner padded the lead at 5:42 of the third after a Toronto turnover in the Columbus zone.

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NOTES: Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski left the bench with an injury in the third period. … Columbus’ Dean Kukan and Toronto’s Jason Spezza each went to the penalty box for brawling in the second period after Spezza whacked Kukan in the head. … Blue Jackets F Nathan Gerbe made his Columbus playoff debut in place of Emil Bemstrom. Kukan, who was shaken up by a hard hit in Game 2, was back in lineup in place of Markus Nutivaara. … Merzlikins, who started his first playoff game, got an assist on the first-period Atkinson goal.

NEXT UP

A decisive Game 5 is Sunday.