Prout, Anisimov lift Blue Jackets over Maple Leafs

Prout, Anisimov lift Blue Jackets over Maple Leafs

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:59 p.m. ET

TORONTO (AP) -- Dalton Prout and Artem Anisimov scored second-period goals, and the Columbus Blue Jackets held off the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 on Monday night.

Toronto dropped its third straight since the Winter Olympics. The Maple Leafs had won seven consecutive at home, their best stretch there since a nine-game run in the 2006-07 season.

Prout, a defenseman, and Anisimov scored less than three minutes apart for Columbus. Sergei Bobrovsky made 28 saves in the win. The Blue Jackets completed a three-game season sweep of Toronto.

Mason Raymond had the lone goal for Toronto, bringing the Maple Leafs within a goal with 4:15 remaining. Toronto made a late flurry after goalie James Reimer was pulled for an extra skater, but couldn't tie it.

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Reimer made 31 saves.

Toronto had won five of six before the Olympic break to climb up the Eastern Conference standings, but the Maple Leafs are 0-1-2 since the NHL resumed play last week. The Maple Leafs are in fifth place in the conference, but five teams are within five points.

Reimer, making his first start since Jan. 25, was sharp early as the Blue Jackets applied pressure, including a clear-cut breakaway by Nick Foligno less than four minutes into the game that was denied.

Aided by a pair of power plays in the middle of the opening period, Toronto took over the momentum and had a handful of scoring chances but couldn't solve Bobrovsky.

Prout opened the scoring when his slap shot from the left point beat a screened Reimer at 9:44 of the second. It was the defenseman's first goal in 30 games this season and his second in 63 career NHL games.

A few minutes later, Anisimov gave Columbus a two-goal lead when he converted Nathan Horton's pass at the side of the crease at 12:38.

Columbus went 0 for 1 on the power play. Toronto was 0 for 2.

The Maple Leafs will visit the New York Rangers on Wednesday, host the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, and then kick off a five-game road trip with three games in California next week.

NOTES: The Blue Jackets shut out the Maple Leafs 6-0 in Toronto in the previous meeting between the teams on Nov. 25. ... Toronto scratched fourth-line forwards Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren. Columbus sat wingers Blake Comeau and Corey Tropp and defenseman Cody Goloubef. ... Ryan Johansen leads the Blue Jackets with 24 goals and 47 points in 61 games. ... Columbus defenseman Ryan Murray left the game in the first period because of a lower-body injury and didn't return.

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