Throwing pucks on is one thing, throwing 57 shots on net is clearly another.
The Columbus Blue Jackets took those 57 shots Wednesday night and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defense blocked another 14 shots.
Problem for Columbus was that Frederik Andersen made 54 saves to help the Leafs to a 6-3 win.
Frederik Andersen made 54 saves to backstop the Leafs to a 6-3 win over Columbus Wednesday night -f file photo by Lewis Bleiman
“I was prepared for that; I know they’ve been throwing a lot of pucks on the net the last few games,” Andersen said. “It’s fun to face a lot of shots, especially when we boxed out to make sure I had a good lane to see the puck.”
So Andersen would not feel too special on the night, the Leafs’ Nazem Kadri netted a hat trick and five points in the win.
“It’s always a thrill to score three and contribute offensively,” Kadri said. “That’s what makes the game the most fun, that’s what attracts you when you first start playing, is to put the puck in the back of the net.”
The 57 shots were not unusual for the Jackets who have taken 50 or more shots in three straight games.
“We have a mindset of shooting the puck, not so much always for scoring goals but to create a forecheck. It’s something we felt was missing in our game for quite a while, so we have really encouraged and done a lot of work with video and in practice to get the puck to the net as best we can. You may not score, but you’ll certainly get some zone time,” Jackets head coach John Tortorella said after the loss.
Nick Foligno struck for two goals for Columbus and Jack Johnson added a single marker in the loss.
“I hate saying this because results are what matter, but yeah, I really felt like we deserved a better fate today,” Foligno said. “Maybe that’s how they felt last game we played here when we came back on them late. That’s part of it, but we’ve got to find a way to get wins and string them together and tonight we didn’t get it done.”
Patrick Marleau, Dominic Moore and Mitch Marner also scored for the Leafs.
Toronto improved to 35-19-5 with their fifth straight win.
[WATCH:Â All Blue Jackets vs. Maple Leafs highlights]
Joonas Korpisalo made 22 saves in taking the loss.
“They definitely try to go to the net, but we did a good job of making sure that I had a clean view on most of the shots. I think that was key to be able to withstand all those shots,” Andersen said after the win.
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