TORONTO -- Adam Fantilli scored his first NHL hat trick, and the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. Fantilli, who grew up in Nobleton, Ontario, about a 40-minute drive north of Toronto, said at the morning skate that he would have 70 family and friends in attendance at the game.

Adam Fantilli scored three goals for his first career hat trick, Elvis Merzlikins stopped 28 shots, and the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1.

Analyzing Wednesday’s Columbus Blue Jackets at Toronto Maple Leafs odds and lines, with NHL expert picks, predictions and best bets.

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

Fantilli's 'hattie' near his hometown led the Blue Jackets to victory over the Maple Leafs and cost his mom her hat: 4 takeaways.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

The Blue Jackets blew the Leafs out of NWA on October 22 by a score of 6-2, so I would expect Toronto to try to return the favor against Columbus tonight ... to beating the Maple Leafs.

Fantilli's first NHL hat trick, two-point game for Del Belluz and a big night from Merzlikins in net help Blue Jackets stun the Maple Leafs.

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.

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.

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