COLUMBUS – The Blue Jackets brought their losing streak to an end in the final game of the regular season, beating Toronto 3-2 to send Columbus into its first-round playoff series with Pittsburgh on an up-note.
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, Rd. 1 (Best of 7) Columbus Blue Jackets at Pittsburgh Penguins, Wed./7:30 p.m./USA
Matt Calvert, Josh Anderson and Cam Atkinson scored in the comeback for Columbus. Joonas Korpisalo stopped 30 shots for the Jackets, who are set for a first-round matchup against Pittsburgh.
James van Riemsdyk scored twice, but the Maple Leafs dropped their regular-season finale and will face the Washington Capitals in the opening round of their first postseason since 2013.
Had they earned even a point, the Leafs would have faced the Ottawa Senators in the first round, but instead they get the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Capitals.
Curtis McElhinney made 29 saves, but Toronto let a 2-0 lead melt away in a porous second period.