Leafs take over third in Atlantic with 5-2 win over Columbus

In Columbus Wednesday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs moved into third place in the Atlantic Division with a 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets.

Nazem Kadri potted his 30th goal of the year in the win.

“Coming into a hostile building, it’s a great team we’re facing in Columbus,” Kadri said. “They do a lot of good things well, so we had to play a structured game.”

Frederik Andersen made 32 saves for the win.

Columbus rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to tie the game but William Nylander scored on a breakaway to give the Leafs the lead for good.

“We can’t let him get behind us when it’s 2-2,” Jackets head coach John Tortorella said. “That one hurt. We needed to at least go into the third period even.”

Columbus was unable to generate enough offense to get back in the game.

“It’s a great answer by us to come back with a push of our own,” Maple Leafs center Brian Boyle said. “We didn’t expect them to lay down for us.”

Auston Matthews, Leo Komarov and Nikita Zaitsev also scored for Toronto.

“That’s one of the better teams we faced in a while. We weren’t ready and it cost us. It’s disappointing. We battle back into the game and they get a weird third one where the guy’s cheating and then scores,” Columbus’ Nick Foligno said of the Maple LEafs.

WATCH: All Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets highlights