Frederik Andersen made 54 saves, and Nazem Kadri had a hat trick with two assists for the Toronto Maple Leafs in a 6-3 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday.
“I was prepared for that; I know they’ve been throwing a lot of pucks on the net the last few games,” Andersen said. “It’s fun to face a lot of shots, especially when we boxed out to make sure I had a good lane to see the puck.”
Kadri took a cross-ice pass from Marner at 11:21 of the third period to make it 5-3 and complete his fourth NHL hat trick. The five points are his single-game high.
“It’s always a thrill to score three and contribute offensively,” Kadri said. “That’s what makes the game the most fun, that’s what attracts you when you first start playing, is to put the puck in the back of the net.”
Patrick Marleau had a goal and two assists for the Maple Leafs (35-19-5), who have won five in a row and nine of their past 10. Toronto trails the Boston Bruins by three points for second place in the Atlantic Division.
🎩 🎩 🎩#StandWitness pic.twitter.com/hfwbZpMvKS
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 15, 2018
Throw those hats. #StandWitness pic.twitter.com/B1Kmdbdh7c
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 15, 2018
FREDDIE!
→ https://t.co/cLkct5YNoO#TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/Xiw53x1lvQ
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 15, 2018