The Leafs looked like the better team for most of the game, but couldn't solve Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins.

Adam Fantilli scored his first career hat trick as the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 on Wednesday night. Luca Del Bel Belluz added a goal and an assist and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Blue Jackets,

Toronto Maple Leafs' Ryan Reaves and Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets traded heavy punches in the opening minutes of Wednesday's tilt.

Matthew Knies appears to have suffered his second injury this season. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward was throwing a check at Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko late in the second period when he fell to the ice awkwardly. this happened at the end of Knies' last shift he left the bench early pic.twitter.com/ttWe3jVggl

Goaltender Dennis Hildeby was exposed against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Leafs’ 5-1 loss at Scotiabank Arena, as his mobility in the crease was an issue as Toronto’s three-game winning streak came to an end.

But Knies and linemates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were already in a frustrated state as the Jackets ended the Leafs’ three-game win streak. Columbus, making an improbable run at a wild-card playoff spot, are only the second Eastern Conference team to beat the Atlantic Division leading Leafs twice, by a combined 11-3 score.

Fantilli recorded his first career hat trick in front of his friends and family at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.

Auston Matthews has had a ton of success against Columbus in his career, and our Maple Leafs vs. Blue Jackets predictions expect that to continue tonight.