from Kristen Shilton of TSN,

Despite the Leafs having weeks to get ready for the suffocating forecheck and physical play that Columbus brings, when it came down to it, Toronto just couldn’t find its way. There were some stretches of sustained pressure in the offensive end, but the Blue Jackets did well keeping the Leafs off-kilter in the neutral zone and forcing them into turnovers.

“[The Blue Jackets] did what they do best and what we were prepared for,” said head coach Sheldon Keefe. “We knew it was going to be difficult. Now we're out on the ice and you feel it. We didn't get one to fall for us here today. I thought we did have some chances to get more than what we got on the scoreboard but it didn't fall in for us, it fell in for them and that's the difference.”

Keefe gave his top forwards every opportunity to break through, playing Auston Matthews a team-high 24:38. On a line with William Nylander and Zach Hyman, Matthews had many of the Leafs’ best chances, including one off the crossbar behind Korpisalo, but the Blue Jackets’ Seth Jones and Zach Werenski stymied Matthews with their patented tight-checking defence.

“I don't think they did anything to surprise us,” Matthews said. “I think they really play a pretty straightforward game and you know what you can expect every night. They're going to compete, they're going to play physical. I thought we did some good things, and there's some things we can clean up. But obviously we have to create some offence, get guys inside and capitalize on some opportunities.”

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Game highlights are below.