Last year, Adam Fantilli scored a hat trick in Toronto, with friends and family in attendance including his hat-throwing mother.

He didn’t get three goals tonight, but he contributed on all three Columbus Blue Jackets goals which was enough to earn an overtime victory over the host Maple Leafs.

The game started like too many have recently, with the Jackets playing passive hockey. The Leafs outshot the Jackets 12-4 in the first period, but the goaltending of Jet Greaves (another Ontario native) kept the game a scoreless tie at the first intermission.

Early in the second, the Jackets broke the tie on a goal that appeared to be Fantilli’s, but was corrected to be attributed to Dmitri Voronkov, whose thigh the puck grazed on its way in.

Midway through the period, the Jackets finally started to get an extended push. The Monahan line earned an extended shift in the offensive zone that led to a Toronto icing. Fantilli’s line got an offensive zone faceoff against a tired Leafs unit, and even after a clear they were able to push back and get another goal. There was no question that this one belonged to Adamo.

By the underlying numbers, the Jackets had been outplayed to this point. With the lead however, they finally started pushing back and controlling the play. So of course that meant Toronto was able to get one goal back. This one came off of a faceoff and was a puck that traveled through a lot of traffic. Dakota Mermis (a real name, somehow) got credit for it.

Early in the third, the Leafs managed to tie it up, because it was the third period and of course the Jackets will blow a lead, right? John Tavares got the goal after getting an assist on the first goal. Now that he’s not overpaid, Tavares is having one of the best runs of his career. Weird, right?

This goal happened because the Jackets were too aggressive on the forecheck. Honestly? I’m willing to make that trade-off. Toronto had a great breakout in response but I prefer the Jackets trying to make something happen rather than letting their opponent dictate play.

The Jackets held on to the end of regulation, and went to overtime for the fifth time in the last seven games. In the final minute, Fantilli scored on the breakaway, with a very skilled play to get the puck over Joseph Woll’s outstretched leg.

Final Thoughts

Sean Monahan and Kent Johnson have been disappointing over the first 20 games, but their line was noticeably better tonight, alongside Miles Wood. In 8:43 of 5v5, they had a 70.59% shot attempt rate. They helped set up the first Fantilli goal, like I said, and KJ had a great backcheck in the overtime following a turnover.

Jet Greaves had a .931 save percentage, blocking 27 of 29. That’ll do.

After the game, Fantilli told the FDSNOH broadcast that his mom, Julia, made chicken and potatoes for him yesterday, and a rack of lamb. I say let’s pay her to come to Columbus and cook that for him more often, yeah? Oh well, it was nice to see his parents so happy in the stands after the OT goal. Pro athletes’ parents celebrating their children always warms my heart.

Up Next

The road trip continues on Saturday night in Detroit (French for “Of the Troit”).