Adam Fantilli scored three goals for his first career hat trick, Elvis Merzlikins stopped 28 shots, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1.

Analyzing Wednesday’s Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

Fantilli's first NHL hat trick, two-point game for Del Belluz and a big night from Merzlikins in net help Blue Jackets stun the Maple Leafs.

Fantilli's 'hattie' near his hometown led the Blue Jackets to victory over the Maple Leafs and cost his mom her hat: 4 takeaways.

The Blue Jackets blew the Leafs out of NWA on October 22 by a score of 6-2, so I would expect Toronto to try to return the favor against Columbus tonight ... to beating the Maple Leafs.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

The Leafs looked like the better team for most of the game, but couldn't solve Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins.

Saad is leaving $4.5 million on the table with St. Louis after the two sides agreed to terminate his contract following his waiver clearance.

Auston Matthews has had a ton of success against Columbus in his career, and our Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets predictions expect that to continue tonight.

But Knies and linemates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were already in a frustrated state as the Jackets ended the Leafs’ three-game win streak. Columbus, making an improbable run at a wild-card playoff spot, are only the second Eastern Conference team to beat the Atlantic Division leading Leafs twice, by a combined 11-3 score.

The Leafs, who suffered 6-2 road loss to the Blue Jackets in October, saw a three-game winning streak snapped. Fantilli, a native of nearby Nobleton, Ont., with 70 family and friends in attendance at Scotiabank Arena, pushed Columbus ahead 3-0 in the second period with his second of the night.

Elvis Merzlikins and the motivation stemming from two big homecomings were plenty enough for the Blue Jackets to overcome the Toronto Maple Leafs' home ... scored the other Columbus goal, and ...