3 least impressive Toronto Maple Leafs players from 5-1 loss to Blue Jackets feat. Dennis Hildeby 

By Mike Whitaker

Modified Jan 23, 2025 04:22 GMT

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The Toronto Maple Leafs were back in action on Wednesday night, hosting the Columbus Blue Jackets at Scotiabank Arena in downtown Toronto.

For the Leafs, it was a chance for them to earn their fourth win in five games; conversely, the Blue Jackets entered with a 3-1-1 record in their last five games.

Thanks to a career performance from a hometown native, the Blue Jackets would make it 4-1-1 in their last six games; as they defeated the Maple Leafs by a final score of 5-1 thanks to the hat trick from Ontario native Adam Fantilli.

The win improved the Blue Jackets' record to 23-18-7, while the Leafs fell to 30-17-2.

The scoring was opened by Fantilli, who notched a power-play goal with just under five minutes remaining in the opening period; the Blue Jackets took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Former Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk, playing in his first season with the Blue Jackets, scored his ninth goal just past the midway point of the second period to extend the Columbus lead to 2-0; they soon made it 3-0 thanks to Fantilli's second of the night.

Just over five minutes into the third period, Luca Del Bel Belluz scored his second goal to make the score 4-0. While the Maple Leafs managed to get one goal back thanks to Auston Matthews' 20th goal of the season, Fantilli completed the hat trick in front of family and friends:

Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins was solid for Columbus, stopping 28 of 29 shots. Meanwhile, Dennis Hildeby didn't fare as well, stopping 14 of 18 shots.

3 least impressive Toronto Maple Leafs players from 5-1 loss to Blue Jackets

#1. Dennis Hildeby

The young Maple Leafs goaltender, who was summoned from the American Hockey League affiliate Toronto Marlies thanks to the injury to Anthony Stolarz, did not impress on Wednesday night.

The first goal that Columbus scored was one that he needed to come up with a save, as highlighted by coach Craid Berube in his postgame media availability.

"Well, he wants to be better," Berube said of Hildeby. "He has to have the first one, but whatever. He hasn’t played in a long time, either. He is trying to battle."

Expect Joseph Woll to return to the net for the Leafs in their next game.

#2. Jake McCabe

One of several Maple Leafs defensemen who would love a chance at a do-over during Wednesday's game, McCabe was caught out of position several times.

He finished with a -3 rating, tied for worst on the team as a whole against Columbus.

#3. Conor Timmins

Continuing on the same theme, Timmins finished his night with a -2 rating and also was guilty of committing a pair of turnovers.

Considering he only played in 13:56 of ice time, those aren't the kind of stats fans will want to see.

The Maple Leafs will look to bounce back with a win in the Battle of Ontario when they take on the Ottawa Senators next at Candian Tire Centre on Saturday.