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How the Toronto Maple Leafs Stack Up Against the Competition (Part 2)

By Brad Vos

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: A detailed view of the NHL logo on the back of the goal netting before the game between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena on October 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: A detailed view of the NHL logo on the back of the goal netting before the game between the Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Capital One Arena on October 16, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 21: Ilya Mikheyev #65 of the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

(9) Columbus Blue Jackets

Now to the team that the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing in the Qualifiers, the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Columbus finished with the same .579 points percentage as Toronto in the regular season.  They were 27th in goals scored but 3rd in goals allowed.

Columbus has a weak power play that converted on just 16.4% of its chances this season.  The penalty kill ranked 12th in the NHL this year.  They are a league-average team in terms of puck possession.

The Blue Jackets don’t have many forwards that would scare opponents. Pierre-Luc Dubois led the team with 49 points this season.  He is joined on the top line by Alexandre Texier and Oliver Bjorkstrand.  You can expect them to see a lot of Jake Muzzin and Justin Holl, as the forwards get pretty thin after that.

The defense, on the other hand, is an incredible strength for Columbus.  Zach Werenski and Seth Jones are arguably the best number one pairing in the entire league.  David Savard and Ryan Murray provide great depth for the Jackets back end.

The team also is in good hands with two capable starting goalies in Elvis Merzlikins and Joonas Korpisalo.  The two split time almost evenly during the regular season.  Merzlikins was slightly better with a 2.35 GAA and .923 SV%.  He also recorded five shutouts this season.

Columbus is going to give the Toronto Maple Leafs all they can handle in their play-in series.  They play a style designed to slow down Toronto’s high powered offense.  Head Coach John Tortorella has done more with less in the past and could push the Blue Jackets into the playoffs.

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