Adam Fantilli Records First Career Hat Trick; Elvis Merzļikins Plays Lights Out As Columbus "Leaves" Toronto With Two Points

Adam Fantilli(12-SHG, 13, 14), James van Riemsdyk(9), and Luca Del Bel Belluz(2) scored the goals for Columbus as the CBJ dominated the Leafs on the score sheet. Elvis Merzļikins played extremely well in the win as well, stopping 29 Toronto shots. The only goal he surrendered was against Jacket Killer Auston Matthews with 10 minutes left in the game.

This game started with a bang as Mathieu Olivier and Ryan Reaves would have a heavy-weight fight 1:32 into the game. It got both teams going early and got the rowdy crowd involved too. Elvis Merzļikins was getting shelled the entire first period and had everyone thinking it was only a matter of time before the Leafs broke through and scored on Elvis. And then hometown boy Adam Fantilli happened.

In front of approximately 75 friends and family, Fantilli opened the scoring in the first when he beat Dennis Hildeby to make it 1-0. Fantilli would go on to score another goal in the second that made the score 3-0. In the third, with Hildeby pulled for the extra attacker with eight minutes left, Fantilli was fed by Kirill Marchenko who then beat a sprawling Mitch Marner to score his first career hat trick. Not only was it near his hometown, but it was in front of his parents. His mother got to throw a hat on the ice to celebrate her son's achievement.

Luca Del Bel Belluz also scored a goal on the night. LDBB is from nearby Woodbridge, Ontario, and had about 50 people in the building supporting him.

With the win on Wednesday night, the Jackets are back in the first wild card spot with 53 points. They also improved their road record to 7-13-4.

Dean Evason said after the game, "Everyone did their part tonight." 

Final Stats

Player Stats

• Adam Fantilli scored his 12th, 13th, and 14th goals of the season for his first career hat trick. He's the 4th youngest player in Columbus to score a hat trick.

• James van Riemsdyk scored his 9th goal of the season.

• Luca Del Bel Belluz scored his 2nd goal of the year.

• Ivan Provorov collected his 17th assist.

• Mathieu Olivier got his 8th assist.

• Luca Del Bel Belluz tallied his 3rd assist.

• Kent Johnson got his 15th assist.

• Dmitri Voronkov recorded his 15th assist.

• Zach Werenski tallied his 37th assist.

• Dante Fabbro collected his 8th assist.

• Kirill Marchenko got his 33rd assist.

• Elvis Merzļikins made 29 saves in the win.

Team Stats

• The shorthanded goal by Adam Fantilli was the team's 6th of the season.

• Columbus wasn't awarded a power play in this game.

• The Jackets stopped all three Leaf power plays on the night.

What's Next - The Blue Jackets travel to Carolina to play the Hurricanes tonight in Raleigh.

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