A memorable goal for John Tavares came on a a night the Maple Leafs want to forget.

Tavares’s 500th was overshadowed by the club’s worst loss of the year, a 6-3 defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a final result that flattered Toronto as Tavares and Nick Robertson scored with the game out of reach and long after the Jackets had beaten Cayden Primeau and a lax Leafs’ defensive play five times on the first 13 of 24 shots.

Our takeaways from a tough game at Nationwide Arena:

NO TRAVEL EXCUSES

Both clubs won and travelled to Ohio the night before, which is hardly a sapping west coast journey. So, why did the Leafs look so flat?

Transition goals against have been a sore spot all year and Cole Sillinger’s easy rush after a Leafs breakout was thwarted caused coach Craig Berube to use an ear

See Full Page