Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET
Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio
TV: Sportsnet (Toronto markets), Blue Jackets Hockey Network / CBJHN (Columbus); ESPN+
The Maple Leafs (10 points, 6th in Atlantic) visit the Blue Jackets (6 points, 8th in Metropolitan) on the second night of a back-to-back after a 3-1 home win over San Jose. Toronto features star power led by Auston Matthews, while Columbus looks to capitalize on home ice and rest against a potentially backup-goaltender opponent. This is the first meeting of the season. Notable storylines include Kirill Marchenko’s return to Nationwide Arena (traded from Columbus) and Matthew Knies facing his former Leafs teammates.
Venue
Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Capacity approximately 18,500 for hockey. Strong home environment for the Blue Jackets.
Current Rosters and Projected Lineups
Toronto Maple Leafs (skill-heavy group with veteran additions; Coach: Jim Hiller):
Key forwards include Auston Matthews (captain), William Nylander, Kirill Marchenko, Jack Roslovic, Nick Paul, Easton Cowan, Colton Sissons, and others. Defense features Morgan Rielly, Jake McCabe, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Darren Raddysh, Troy Stecher. Goalies: Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz.
Projected lineup:
Roslovic – Matthews – Nylander
Cowan – Paul – Marchenko
McKenna – Sissons – Lettieri
Duhaime – Blueger – MacEwen
Defense: Rielly–Stecher; McCabe–Raddysh; Ekman-Larsson–Blankenburg
Likely starter: Anthony Stolarz (back-to-back).
Columbus Blue Jackets (young core mixed with veterans; Coach: Rick Bowness):
Key forwards include Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, Matthew Knies, Sean Monahan, Charlie Coyle, Valeri Nichushkin, Dmitri Voronkov, Cole Sillinger, Conor Garland, and others. Defense: Zach Werenski, Damon Severson, Jake Christiansen, Denton Mateychuk, Erik Gudbranson, Emil Andrae. Goalies: Jet Greaves and Cam Talbot.
Projected lineup:
Knies – Fantilli – Johnson
Nichushkin – Monahan – Voronkov
Sillinger – Coyle – Olivier
Lomberg – Del Bel Belluz – Garland
Defense: Werenski–Severson; Christiansen–Mateychuk; Andrae–Gudbranson
Likely starter: Jet Greaves.
Injury Reports
Maple Leafs:
John Tavares (C) — Out / IR (lower body)
Chris Tanev (D) — Out / IR (upper body)
Max Domi (C) — Out / IR-LT (undisclosed/back)
Dakota Joshua (C) — Out / IR-LT (core/abdomen)
Miles Wood (LW) — Out / IR (undisclosed)
Additional depth absences noted in some reports.
Blue Jackets:
Ivan Provorov (D) — Out (lower body)
Dante Fabbro (D) — Out (broken hand/upper body)
Isac Lundestrom (C) — Out (lower body/Achilles)
Other depth players sidelined.
Recent Team Forms
Maple Leafs (last 5): W 3-1 vs SJS, L 1-4 vs NYI, L 4-5 OT vs BUF, L 4-5 at UTA, W 6-3 at COL. 4-4-2 overall. Strong power play (28.6%) and elite penalty kill (96.9%). Auston Matthews leads with 16 points (7 goals); Nylander and Marchenko productive.
Blue Jackets (last 5): L 1-2 at MIN, W 1-0 OT vs NYR, L 3-7 vs FLA, L 3-5 at STL, W 3-2 SO vs PIT. 3-4-0 overall, better at home (3-2-0). Offense limited (2.43 GF/GP); defense and goaltending mixed. Werenski and Fantilli/Johnson provide upside.
Toronto holds edges in special teams and star production; Columbus benefits from rest and home ice.
Key Player Matchups
Auston Matthews / William Nylander / Kirill Marchenko vs. Blue Jackets defense (Werenski–Severson): Toronto’s top skill against Columbus’s top pairing. Marchenko returns to face his former club.
Adam Fantilli / Kent Johnson / Matthew Knies vs. Leafs blue line (Rielly, McCabe): Young Columbus talent against Toronto’s mobile defense. Knies faces his old team.
Special teams: Leafs’ elite PP and near-perfect PK against a Blue Jackets unit that has struggled on the man-advantage and penalty kill early.
Goaltending: Stolarz (backup on back-to-back) vs. Greaves (rested home starter).
Physical play and depth: Blue Jackets’ energy lines vs. Leafs’ checking units.
Series History
First meeting of 2026-27. The teams have a competitive recent history as Eastern Conference opponents, with Toronto often holding the edge in talent but Columbus competitive at home. No major recent playoff series.
Betting Trends
Leafs on a back-to-back after playing the previous night; expected to start backup Stolarz.
Columbus rested and stronger at home.
Toronto’s special teams are elite, but overall form is mixed and key injuries hurt depth.
Game Odds
Toronto Maple Leafs 6.5
Columbus Blue Jackets – 148
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, October 19, 2026
